Script
THE tempest
By william shakespeare
Role play
NARRATOR: There was an island in the sea and only two
people lived there; Miranda and her father, Prospero. Miranda
was a charming girl but she came to this island so young so she
had never seen another human apart from her father.
They lived in a cave made out of rock and there were many
apartments. One of thes apartments was Prospero’s study where
he kept his books that were full of magic. The island they lived
on was enchanted by a witch called Sycorax who died there.
Prospero had freed one of her prisoners, named Ariel, who was
now completely loyal and had dedicated his life to Prospero.
(Ariel is tied to a tree and Prospero comes, confident, and unties
Ariel. Ariel bows down to prospero and says, ‘Thank you so
much. You are a kind man and I am willing to be your servant.’)
Ariel had a job. It was to make sure that Caliban, Sycorax’s son,
did the work ordered by his master, Prospero. Caliban was lazy
and when didn’t obey Prospero, Ariel would make him regret it.
He was invisible to all but Prospero so he would make Caliban
tumble downwards and turn himself into a hedgehog to torment
him.
One day, Prospero shows Miranda a violent storm he had
created to cause mayhem in a fine large ship.
MIRANDA: These poor souls will all die. If I had power, I
would help them rather than let their ship be destroyed.
PROSPERO: Miranda, don’t be shocked. I have done everything
that is good for you. You don’t know who you are or where you
came from. Can you remember anything before this island? You
weren’t even three years old when you came here.
MIRANDA: I can, sir.
PROSPERO: Tell me everything you remember.
MIRANDA: Didn’t I have four or five women who attended
upon me?
PROSPERO: You had even more. Do you know how you came
here?
MIRANDA: No sir.
PROSPERO: Twelve years ago, I was the duke of Milan and
you were a princess. I loved to read books so I gave my brother,
Antonio, a chance to become popular among my subjects.
However, Antonio started thinking of himself as the duke and
started planning to overthrow me. He managed to do so, with the
help of the king of Naples.
MIRANDA: Why didn’t they kill us?
PROSPERO: They didn’t because my people loved me. Antonio
took us on a boat and left us to die in the sea. But Gonzalo, a
kind lord, provided our boat with food, water, clothes and books.
MIRANDA: I must have been great trouble to you then.
PROSPERO: No, you saved me. Your smiles encouraged me to
move on. Since we came here, my greatest joy has been teaching
you, and you have received a far better education than other
princesses.
MIRANDA: Thank you, father. Now why did you cause this
storm?
PROSPERO: Due to the storm, the king of Naples, and Antonio
have been cast ashore on this island.
NARRATOR: Prosper touches Miranda with his wand and she
falls asleep. Ariel bounds to Prospero.
PROSPERO: My brave spirit, how have you performed your
task?
ARIEL: I have Ferdinand, the prince, sitting in a corner,
mourning the loss of his father. He is not injured though.
PROSPERO: That is my brave Ariel.
ARIEL: The king and your brother are searching for Ferdinand.
Everyone is safe and the ship is safe in the harbour.
PROSPERO: Good job, but there is yet more work.
ARIEL: More work? When will I be free then?
PROSPERO: Have you forgotten that I freed you from the
wicked Sycorax? Where was she born?
ARIEL: In Algiers.
PROSPERO: I freed you from her tree prison. She was left here
by sailors. Do you remember?
ARIEL: Pardon me. I will obey your commands.
PROSPERO: I will set you free after two days. Now go and
bring this young prince so he can see my daughter.
NARRATOR: Ariel sprints off to find Ferdinand.
ARIEL: Come sir, follow me.
NARRATOR: Ariel brings the prince to Miranda and Prospero,
who takes a good long look at him.
PROSPERO: Miranda, what do you see?
MIRANDA: It is surely a spirit.
PROSPERO: No. This young man was on the ship and he was
looking for his father.
MIRANDA: This is wonderful.
FERDINAND: Are you a goddess?
MIRANDA: I am no goddess. I am just a maid.
NARRATOR: Prospero saw before him, the two falling in love
at first sight. Prospero was happy but decided to test Ferdinand’s
faithfulness.
PROSPERO: Follow me. I shall tie your neck and feet. You will
only drink seawater and eat husks of acorns.
FERDINAND: I shan’t entertain you in that manner.
NARRATOR: And with a wave of his wand, Prospero fixed
Ferdinand to one spot.
MIRANDA: Why are you so ungentle? This is only the second
man I have ever seen. Have pity!
PROSPERO: Silence! There are more fine men.
MIRANDA: I have no wish to see a better man.
PROSPERO: Come along, you have no power to disobey me.
FERDINAND: I haven’t indeed.
NARRATOR: Prospero made Ferdinand do laborious work and
he also made sure Miranda knew of the hard work assigned to
him.
MIRANDA: Let me carry the logs of wood to the pile. I will do
the work. Please rest yourself.
FERDINAND: I dare not, dear lady. I must finish my work first.
MIRANDA: Please, sit down.
NARRATOR: Instead of being a help, Miranda became a
hindrance. They began a long conversation. Prospero was
invisible and he stood nearby to overhear what they said.
FERDINAND: And your name?
MIRANDA: I am Miranda, but it is against my father’s will that
I tell you so.
(Prospero smiles.)
FERDINAND: There is no other woman that I could ever love. I
love you above all other ladies I have ever seen. You are
beautiful and outshine all the women in the world.
MIRANDA: I have not seen any woman or any other man apart
from you and my father. But I know that I wish for no other
companion but you.
FERDINAND: I am heir to the throne and you should be my
queen.
MIRANDA: (Through tears of happiness) I am a fool to cry at
what makes me happy. I am your wife if you will marry me.
NARRATOR: Prospero prevents Ferdinand from saying thank
you by showing himself to them.
PROSPERO: Fear nothing. I approve of all you have said. And,
Ferdinand, if I have treated you too harshly, I will make it up to
you by granting you my daughter.
NARRATOR: Prospero desired them to sit and talk while he
went for some time.
PROSPERO: Ariel, what have you done with my brother and
the king, Alonso?
ARIEL: They are out of their minds with fear. I have caused
them to see and hear horrible things, terrible things indeed. I am
sure they repent the injustice done with you, master.
PROSPERO: Then bring them to me Ariel.
NARRATOR: Ariel brought the king, Antonio and Gonzalo.
They were exasperated and did not recognise Prospero. Prospero
reminded them that he was Antonio’s brother, Prospero.
ANTONIO: I am so sorry, my dear brother. I beg of you to have
mercy on us and please, forgive me. I don’t know what came
over me. I was stubborn and I honestly regret my decision to
overthrow you and deprive you of your dukedom.
ALONSO (THE KING OF NAPLES): I regret ever assisting
Antonio to depose you. Please forgive us and have mercy upon
us. In front of you, our head will always remain downwards
around you. We will restore your dukedom.
PROSPERO: I also have a gift for you.
NARRATOR: Prospero throws the door open, and shows the
king his son playing a game of chess with Miranda. The father
and son were joyful at this unexpected reunion.
MIRANDA: O wonder! Mankind is beautiful!
ALONSO: Who is this maid? She seems to be the goddess who
separated us and then brought us together.
FERDINAND: No sir. She is mine. Prospero has given me a
new life and given me this dear lady.
ALONSO: Then I must be her father. But I have to ask for her
forgiveness.
PROSPERO: No more of that. Forget the past.
NARRATOR: Prospero then embraced his brother again and
assured him of his forgiveness.
PROSPERO: Your ship is safe in the harbour. Take the
refreshments provided by the cave and to entertain you I will tell
you the history of my life.
NARRATOR: He then called Caliban to prepare some food.
(A SHORT PAUSE/BREAK)
NARRATOR: Before he left the island the next day, Prospero
dismissed Ariel from his service.
PROSPERO: My sweet Ariel, I shall miss you, yet you shall
have your freedom.
ARIEL: Thank you. Let me see your ship home with favourable
winds.
NARRATOR: Prospero was finally reunited with his brother and
the king of Naples. He was determined to never use magic again
and so he buried his wand and books deep in the earth. He
witnesses the happy wedding of Prince Ferdinand and Princess
Miranda.
THE END!