Scenes from Kenny Lake School's Production of The Tempest

Caliban Meets Trinculo and Stephano

Caliban (Kristi Knutson) is forced to seek cover under a blanket, believing a storm is Prospero come to torment her. Next, Trinculo (Amber Lenard) and Stephano (Hazel Underwood) enter the picture with hilarious results. The Tempest by William Shakespeare was performed at Kenny Lake School on December 14 and December 17 at Kenny Lake School.

Prospero directs Ariel and visits Caliban

 Prospero (Kegan Bowman) directs Ariel (Hannah Voley) to carry out some of his magical wishes. Later, Miranda (Scarlett Lingenfelter) and Prospero visit slave Caliban (Kristi Knutson). Performed by Kenny Lake School's Drama class on Friday, December 14.

The Tempest, starring Kegan Bowman as Propsero will be performed Friday, December 14 at 7 p.m. and Monday, December 17 at 7 p.m.

Shakespeare's The Tempest
comes alive at Kenny Lake
on December 14 + 17

    If your December needs a little fire and magic, then you should plan on attending one of Kenny Lake School’s productions of William Shakespeare’s The Tempest on either Friday, December 14, or Monday, December 17, starting at 7 p.m. The play is certain to beat away the winter doldrums when characters such as a spritely spirit, a raging wizard, and an earthy barbarian find their way onto the stage.

    The Tempest tells the story of Prospero, starring Kegan Bowman, who has been banished from his dukedom, and lives on an island with his daughter, Miranda (Scarlet Lingenfelter), slave, Caliban (Kristi Knutson), and spirit Ariel (Hannah Voley). A ship carrying a royal party, many of whom conspired to steal his dukedom, finds its way into Prospero’s sights. With the help of Ariel, Prospero creates a tempest that divides the party and shipwrecks them onto his island.

    Almost immediately, Caliban meets up with the king’s butler, Stephano (Hazel Underwood), and jester, Trinculo (Amber Lenard), and after tasting their wine declares Stephano to be his god. This trio soon conspires to kill Prospero and take over the island. The king’s son, Ferdinand (Elias Christian), discovers Miranda, and the two fall in love – but Ferdinand must first convince Prospero that his intentions are noble. The royal party wanders the island and soon another assassination plot is born, but Prospero and Ariel manage to stay at least one step of each conspiracy.

    The Tempest is full of amusing characters, political intrigue, and beautiful language. In one scene, Trinculo stumbles across what he thinks is a monster fish. He delivers a soliloquy in which he ridicules his fellow Englishmen by saying, “They will not give a dollar to relieve a lame beggar, they will lazy out ten to see a dead indian.”  In Act V, Prospero comes to realize that every material thing we hold dear in this world will one day dissolve. He delivers what are perhaps his most famous words:

And, like the baseless fabric of this vision,
The cloud-capp'd towers, the gorgeous palaces,
The solemn temples, the great globe itself,
Ye all which it inherit, shall dissolve
And, like this insubstantial pageant faded,
Leave not a rack behind. We are such stuff
As dreams are made on, and our little life
Is rounded with a sleep.

    Since August, 18 of Kenny Lake’s 7-12 graders have been working on the Tempest. While mastering Shakespeare is never easy, the rewards are endless. Not only have the students learned how to crack the sometimes difficult poetic language, they have also learned the importance of teamwork and hard work. The Tempest is directed by Ray Voley and assistant director Emmie Van Wyhe. Julie Knutson has once again taken on the challenges of creating costumes for the entire cast. Rylee Ownbey and her art students are painting the tropical set for the play.

    Please join us for a splendid evening of entertainment. The doors open at 6 p.m. on both performance nights. An overview of the play will be delivered in Mr. Voley’s room starting at 6:15.

Read Mr. Voley's blog about Shakespeare

Student Comments about their Shakespeare experience

          
Caitlen Richison
In the end the young girl had an exciting experience and was touched by getting first place in best girl dressed up as a guy, as said by her fellow drama students. With her missing tooth, fake beard, load voice, and a perfect attitude Caitlen Richison made the perfect Boatwain.

Deanna Knutson
I played a character that challenged me to make my part interesting, and I discovered that it's much easier to ham it up during the actual performance than at practice. I also discovered you can make your character like everybody else's, but it's up to you if you want to take that extra step, put your whole heart into it, and take your role to the extreme. There will be certain characters who steal the show, and if that's not you, you can still become a role worth remembering.

Abbie Schierholt
My advice to the future drama students is work to the best of your ability; it really pays off. Be willing to step out of your comfort zone and risk embarrassment. Most of the time you find yourself doing something great because you took a big chance.  Also enjoy working on the play because the performance comes sooner than you really think it will. All parts in a play are important even if it is super small. When people give you advice you should take it and not turn it down. A good attitude helps the time go by faster and more efficiently.  The most important thing is to have fun and enjoy the audience’s reactions to the play.

Amber Lenard
My advice to future drama students: have pleasure in it. Even though you and your part may be polar opposites, see where it takes you. Learn something about you, about others, about life! Let the pieces drop where they may, and I guarantee, you won't be disappointed as you say your last lines on that stage. All the strings come together and what you accomplished is something you'll remember for the rest of your life. Be not afraid of breaking out of the box.

Elvie Underwood
As an individual, I think my acting skills soared, as well as my ability to work well with others. I also really began to understand what it meant to become your character. I learned that acting isn’t just about saying lines; it’s about stepping out of yourself and into someone else. The transformation is incredible- by the end of the first performance night, I really felt like an old man.

Emmie Van Wyhe
I encourage all the future Kenny Lake Drama students to take advantage of the opportunity you are given to be in theatre. I certainly didn’t appreciate it at first but over these past few months I have seen how rewarding it is to work so hard for something. Also, forget about yourself and become someone else. It is a rare opportunity to take on the role of someone completely different from yourself. Lastly, work hard and realize that it will pay off. All of the studying lines with theatre classmates’ in-between games during volleyball tournaments definitely paid off.

Hannah Voley
I eventually learned that memorizing Shakespeare is actually easier than memorizing now-a-day English because it’s so different! Kind of ironic, but it’s true. When the week of the performance came, I was all easy-going thinking: big deal, I’ll do fine, my part’s not that big, and I won’t mess up. I knew my lines all right, but when to say them, that was tricky! The day before the performance, I was still in the process of learning. Yikes. Hard work paid off, and I managed to do okay. Besides my hula skirt falling off (thankfully back stage) and having to go out and say a line without it, the night of the play went well. So, more advice: Stay confident and worry about everything, but don’t worry about anything. I know… it doesn’t make sense, but it kind of does.

Kristi Knutson 
My last piece of advice is to not think what other people will think of you. For me that was hard, but I obviously got over that being Caliban. Trust me; I know how to get over what people will think of me, just look at pictures of me from the play. Also if you’re worried what people will think of you, you won’t fully become your character. The only thing I wish that was different was that I had more years of high school so I could be in Mr. Voley’s drama class again.

Sammie Ellsworth
Now, a few days later, I wish it wasn't over. I wish I could do it again; it was so much fun. This class has been the most beneficial class I have taken all year. I came to class the first day thinking I hated to act; now I know I love it. Even if you don't think you like acting, give it a chance. That goes for everything in life. Things aren't always as they seem. The most important part of acting is having fun. I promise you, if you have fun with your peers it will all come together naturally. Don't be afraid to make a fool of yourself. Don't freak out if you mess up your lines. It happens. It's acting.

Taylor Vollman
Another thing that surprised me about Drama class was how good of actors and actresses the quietest people in class were. Elias for example; when he tried out for Caliban I was astonished. I could count the times on one hand that Elias had been loud and Caliban is the gruffest character in the play. Yet, somehow even when he didn’t get the part he was still loud and made do with being Ferdinand. I was also surprised that I wasn’t nervous right before the performance. I guess it just hadn’t sunk in yet that this was it until five seconds till I was about to go on stage. Then it hit me and I didn’t know what to do. Luckily I got myself together in time and remembered all my lines.

Amanda Friendshuh
After it was all over and we were taking down the set, I realized that I wanted to do the play again, just one more time at least. When it’s all over you start to realize how much fun it was. Even though I will have to memorize many more things in my life, I know I will not forget my lines(and the Declaration of Independence.)  My advice to future drama students, is to try out for a part that is totally out of your box, and if you do, you will take something out of the experience, something valuable that you will never forget.

Kegan Bowman
You have to let yourself go and not care what your peers or others think. Mr. Voley will pair you up with the character that he thinks fits you best, and he is right almost all the time. He will help you find your inner animalistic Caliban, or assist you in blossoming into a sweet, love-struck Miranda. So just have fun with it and good luck to you... Guys, you will have to wear makeup; there is no way out of it trust me.