I had the opportunity to take pictures for Playlab NYC last summer during their production of the Tempest, performed at Socrates Sculpture Park.
The Tempest is really a comedy, but has some tragic elements and a bit of romance as well. These variety of emotions are shown rather well through the cast. I was able to catch a lot of facial expressions from Actor, Jonathan Wiener. I really enjoy being able to catch moments like these that make the viewer look twice at the image. If you didn’t know this was a Shakespearian play, you would wonder why the man is so distraught and full of despair in the some of these shots.
A monologue from the play by William Shakespeare
TRINCULO: Here's neither bush nor shrub to bear off any weather at all, and another storm brewing: I hear it sing i' th' wind. Yond same black cloud, yond huge one, looks like a foul bombard that would shed his liquor. If it should thunder as it did before, I know not where to hide my head. Yond same cloud cannot choose but fall by pailfuls. What have we here? a man or a fish? dead or alive? A fish: he smells like a fish; a very ancient and fishlike smell; a kind of not of the newest poor-John. A strange fish! Were I in England now, as once I was, and had but this fish painted, not a holiday fool there but would give a piece of silver. There would this monster make a man: any strange beast there makes a man. When they will not give a doit to relieve a lame beggar, they will lay out ten to see a dead Indian. Legged like a man! and his fins like arms! Warm, o' my troth! I do now let loose my opinion, hold it no longer: this is no fish, but an islander, that hath lately suffered by a thunderbold. [Thunder.] Alas, the storm is come again! My best way is to creep under his gaverdine: there is no other shelter hereabout. Misery acquaints a man with strange bedfellows. I will here shroud till the dregs of the storm be past.
For more information about PlaylabNYC and Jonathan, please visit www.playlabnyc.com.
