Presented in partnership with San José State University
January 23 – February 7, 2015
Wednesdays – Saturdays at 8:00pmSundays at 1:00pm
San José State University Hal Todd Studio Theatre
The Tempest
WRITTEN BY WILLIAM SHAKESPEARE
DIRECTED BY DINNA MYERS
RATING: E FOR EVERYONE
Once upon a time, in a land far, far away, a learnéd duke named Prospero and his innocent child were set adrift by a sinister sister and a greedy king, and found themselves exiled on a mysterious land. Now, twelve years later, providence is leading these treacherous villains and the rest of their sailing party right toward that very isle and into Prospero’s powerful clutches. Prospero commands the elements to wash his enemies’ ship ashore his enchanted island, where he plans to alter the fate of all. Have these evil usurpers finally met their match? Old scores are settled, plots are thwarted, romance blooms, comedy ensues, and magic reigns supreme in a land where magic and humanity collide.
About the Tempest
How much are tickets? Tickets range in price from $10.00 for SJSU students, $15 for seniors (65+), and $20.00 general admission. Prices include all service costs — no hidden fees! Tickets are available online and at the box office.
How long is the performance? The Tempest runs approximately 2.5 hours and includes a 15 minute intermission.
The Tempest – E for Everyone
There is very little of concern in this text for parents. The humor is not particularly bawdy, unlike many of Shakespeare’s plays, and there is no overt sexual content. The only potentially difficult material is talk about Caliban’s attempts to take advantage of young Miranda. Parents who are curious about the content of this play can read a translation very similar to our script here.
About the Family Rating System
Silicon Valley Shakespeare endeavors to make theatrical classics enjoyable and accessible to as wide an audience as possible. Families love to attend our plays, and we’re proud to have introduced thousands of young people to the Bard. In order to assist parents and guardians in assessing which of our plays may be right for their children, we offer a Parental Advisory that features a general rating followed by a more nuanced recommendation and description of the content. Since our assessment can’t possibly fit every family, we also offer a link to the actual text of our plays whenever possible so that parents can make their own decision. Our ratings are:
E for Everyone — Self-explanatory.
PG for Parental Guidance — This play is appropriate for most audiences under 13, but we recommend that parents inform themselves with the content of the play and its themes, and exercise their best judgment for their individual child.
T for Teen — This production may be inappropriate for audiences under 13. Parents of younger children are welcome to attend with their children, but we recommend that they prepare for any questions their children may have about some of the more sophisticated and mature content and themes of the play and its particular presentation.
M for Mature — This play is not recommended for audiences under 17.
A note about very young children: Infants and toddlers are always welcome at all outdoor plays, and we’re thrilled to be able to offer newer parents an opportunity to enjoy live theatre. We do ask that at least one parent or guardian of these tiny theatergoers be prepared to take a break with them outside the immediate theatre space if they become upset or very vocal.
