Join Vanessa Vaché, Patrick Harvey, Ellyn Heald, Samantha Blinn, Levi Morger, Will McKay, Jen Greenwald and Ariana Karp as we discuss Act I of The Tempest.

• What is the storm in the first scene of the play? Why does Prospero sink the ship?
• Is Prospero’s ultimate goal to torment his enemies? What is his end-game?
• Prospero as stage-manager/puppet-master/director
• Where are Prospero’s powers from? A book? The earth? 
• Did Ariel cast a love spell over Ferdinand and Miranda?
• Miranda as front-footed. Bashfulness is something that is learned
• Who can see Ariel? Is Prospero the only one? Does Miranda know about the spirits?
• The idea that Ariel is the manifestation of a humanoid form of magic, Ariel can split and shape shift into any form.
• Challenges of staging the very lengthy second scene
• Ariel being compelled and confused by human behavior as a way to “other” Ariel 
• Does Prospero have some remorse and regret about neglecting his duties as Duke of Milan? 

Patrick Stewart as Prospero in the RSC's 2006 production of The Tempest, directed by Rupert Goold.