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The performances of William Shakespeare’s “The Tempest” on Saturday, July 20, and Sunday, July 21, will continue the tradition of celebrating art at Sylvester Manor Educational Farm on Shelter Island. Today, Sylvester Manor is an organic, educational farm, but it was formerly home to 11 generations of European settlers beginning in 1652.
“The Tempest,” written in 1610, tells the story of how Prospera and her daughter, who were exiled at the hands of power-hungry brother, Antonio, started a new life on a remote island populated by fairies, spirits and other magical creatures.
After 12 years of surviving and controlling the island and its inhabitants using her “rough magic,” Prospera summons a sea storm to confront her former life and the people who betrayed her. This results in the motley group of natives and transplants, humans and spirits to fight for dominance and justice.
In addition to the production itself, the “Shakespeare at the Manor” program also addresses the colonial expeditions that influenced Shakespeare’s ideas, as those themes reflect Sylvester Manor, which provided a sugar plantation in Barbados with provisions using the labor of enslaved Africans and indentured Native Americans.
“The shadow of European imperialism continues to shape our modern world, making ‘The Tempest’ an important play to engage with today, especially here on the Manor,” stated Tracy McCarthy, the director of operations at Sylvester Manor, in a release. “Bringing to life this 400-year-old text, on a nearly 400-year-old property, offers an opportunity to reflect on our shared history and on the timeless impulses, both for good and evil, that makes us human.”
Tickets for “The Tempest” are $18 in advance and can be purchased at sylvestormanor.org or 631-749-0626. Sylvester Manor is located at 80 North Ferry Road, there will be a food truck and ice cream available to grab some food to enjoy during the show. Audience members are also asked to bring beach chairs and blankets. Gates open at 5 p.m. and the show starts at 6 p.m. on both July 20 and 21.
Staff Writer on Jul 15, 2019