It’s a brilliant idea to tell the story of the Tempest through Caliban’s eyes and what better location than a tree-encircled grassy stage in the mostly-shuttered Point Pleasant Park?

The Sipu Tricksters of Sipekne’katik First Nation, in association with Zuppa Theatre, collectively created the one-hour Metu’na’q (Caliban’s Version) running through Sunday, 7:30 p.m.. (now sold out) in the woods where Cambridge Drive and the Arm Road meet.

(They, like the play’s host Shakespeare by the Sea, received a special permit to use the space during the provincial government’s woods travel ban.)

Director Ben Stone, of Zuppa, re-structured The Tempest, keeping Shakespeare’s original language, to explore the encounter between Europeans and the Indigenous population from an Indigenous point of view. The themes are subtly but strongly presented in the choice of scenes; the lovely, powerful Mi’kmaw drumming and song; and visuals.

All the European characters have sickly white made-up faces that stand out starkly against their dark hair and clothes; their look recalls the boat of pale, ill-looking Europeans encountering a canoe of Indigenous warriors in Kent Monkman’s Miss Chief’s Wet Dream at the Art Gallery of Nova Scotia. As in that painting, the Indigenous population is healthier looking and in earthy, decorative clothing.

In The Tempest the exiled magician Prospero has stolen a magical and beautiful island from the son of a witch – the “monster” Caliban, whom he treats as a slave. Janine Adams’ Prospero is fierce, compelling and very clear as the harsh, all-powerful former Italian duke controlling both Caliban and the sprite Ariel, who also serves him. Both Caliban (Bella-Rose Masty) and Ariel (Emerald Paul) are played by Indigenous actors as strong, rebellious characters longing for freedom.

After Prospero causes a shipwreck to bring his enemies to shore, Caliban stumbles upon the drunken servants Stephano, a bombastic power-hungry person played by Andrew Masty, and Trinculo, played with great comic touches by Lily S. Caliban sees Stephano as his new god and an escape, singing ‘Ban ‘Ban–Caliban. Has a new master: get a new man.”

As he did with Prospero, Caliban shares all the secrets and foods of the island with Stephano. The servant pours alcohol into Caliban and and tosses blankets to him in a great directorial choice to quietly reference the Europeans giving smallpox infected blankets to the Indigenous. It goes without saying – and it is never directly stated here – that alcohol and disease were wreaked upon the Indigenous by people from the Old World.

The Tempest usually ends with Prospero’s magnificent speech about mortality. Here it ends with Caliban setting the location as he does at the beginning of the play; a stronger, more poetic and pointed speech by Caliban would give this version a stronger ending.

This production has a wonderful communal spirit, a thought-provoking concept and a beautiful setting. Walking out of the Park at night the lights of the container pier make the water gleam but are also a reminder of the presence of industry and global shipping within a once wild and free land.

According to the press release: “The Sipu Tricksters is an ad-hoc group of community members from Sipekne’katik First Nation of all ages and walks of life. The group includes a retired fisher, single parents, a school teacher, visual artists, cultural carriers and post secondary students, among others. This multi-generational ensemble created Metu’na’q by engaging with traditional Mi’kmaw cultural practices and history to build all aspects of the production.”

The cast includes spirit ministers Heather Knockwood and Sheena Marie McCulloch, Eva Sack as Miranda, and Kayli Raye Marr as Ferdinand. The creative team includes producer Sophie Schade, costume mentor Leesa Hamilton, costume designer Kayli Raye Marr, music, language and cultural consultant Elle Michael, photographer and community consultant April Maloney, reconciliation action advisor Richard “Krow Dog” Taylor, graphic designer Bella-Rose Masty, make-up artist Sheena Marie McCulloch, carpenter Ben Cable and “Sipu Tricksters at Large” Ida Simon, Vera Marr, Arianna Paul and Xavier Taylor.

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