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 Theatrt Company's Caliban's Island, currently running at Westminster Theater 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 of 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
Whether Shakespeare, Browning, or the writers of "Gilligan's Island" would enjoy Caliban'sis in question. However, the audience is most appreciative. This mix of a classic and a long running-television show does work. Shakespeare's dialogue serves 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 are almost worth the price of admission. As with many of Shakespeare's works, there is an epilogue, this one being all Caliban. Certainly a fitting ending to an irreverent and amusing production.
