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Caliban's Island - Talent to aMuse Theatre Company

By Robert Hitchcox

What happens when you mix Shakespeare's The Tempest with that wild group from Gilligan's Island and just a touch of Robert Browning's Caliban Upon Setebos. Well, of course, you get Talent to aMuse Theatre Company's Caliban's Island, currently running at Westminster Theatre in Point Loma.

Poor Caliban, Walter Murray, has been invaded by a shipwrecked group headed by Alonso (Jonathan Dunn-Rankin), King of Naples and Skipper. Prospero (Tom Haine) the Duke of Milan leads the group, as does the Professor in Gilligan's Island. He is busy tending to his daughter Miranda (Miranda Halverson), who is enamored with Ferdinand (Harrison Myers), son of Alonso, and a truly delightful Gilligan. Halverson brings us the best of Mary Ann.

Sebastian and Antonia (George Weinberg-Harter and Gail West), Alonso's brother and sister, attempt to maintain a rather aloof attitude throughout the indignity of living on Caliban's Island, ala Mr. and Mrs. Howell.

Rounding out the group is Ariel (Sandy Hotchkiss Gullans), who could also be Ginger. Thus rounding out the TV group.

Whether Shakespeare, Browning, or the writers of Gilligan's Island would enjoy Caliban's Island is in question. However, the audience was most appreciative. This mix of a classic and a long running-television show does work. Shakespeare's dialog works as a point to the counterpoint of a contemporary South Seas island setting.

Walter Murray, as Caliban, has the last laugh in several scenes with a jester that is almost worth the price of admission. As with many of Shakespeare's works, there is an epilogue. This epilogue is all Caliban's Island and Caliban. Certainly a fitting ending to an irreverent and amusing production.

Caliban's Island is playing at the Westminster Theatre, 3598 Talbot Street, Point Loma, Thursday, October 18, through October 28; Thursday through Saturday at 8:00 p.m. Sunday at 7:00 p.m. For information and reservations, call Box Office Phone at 619 233-9407 or check out their website www.talenttoamuse.com.

Cast

Jonathan Dunn-Rankin, Harrison Myers, George Weinberg-Harter, Gail West, Walter Murray, Tom Haine, Miranda Halverson, Sandy Hotchkiss Gullans

Technical Staff

Dramaturge George Weinberg-Harter, AD Miranda Halverson, Lighting/Set/Sound John Murphy, Costumes Gail West, Island artwork George Weinberg-Harter, Masks Miranda Halverson

Critic Robert Hitchcox
Total Rating: Two and half stars
Genre: Comedy
Author: Adaptation from Shakespeare's Tempest
Director: Sandy Hotchkiss Gullans
Date Reviewed: October 18, 2007
Dates: Thursday thru Sunday, October 18 to 28, 2007
Running Time: 73 minutes with no intermission

Talent To aMuse Theatre Company - an independent theatre
Westminster Theatre
3598 Talbot Street, Pt Loma
San Diego, CA
Box Office Phone 619 233-9407
www.talenttoamuse.com

Robert Hitchcox is a playwright, critic and fiction author.