Quick synopsis: In this play we have Prospero, the exiled Duke of Milan. Prospero and his daughter Miranda were shipwrecked on an (almost) deserted island when Prospero's evil brother Antonio ousted him from power and cast Prospero and a three year old Miranda in a leaky old boat out to sea. But Prospero and Miranda lived, thanks to a kind man named Gonzolo who sneaked a bunch of provisions onto the boat ahead of time.

Fast forward twelve years.

Prospero and Miranda are still stuck on the island. But as fate would have it, the evil Antonio finds himself sailing past the "deserted" island on his way back from a royal wedding in Africa. With him on the boat are Alonzo, the King of Naples (who years prior had conspired with Antonio to oust Prospero), Ferdinand (Alonzo's son and heir), Sebastian (Alonzo's brother), Gonzolo (yes, the good one who tried to save Prospero and Miranda), and a bunch of other insignificant characters. As the boat sails by the island, Prospero uses his magical powers to cause a tempest to arise and shipwreck them all on the island with him.

Now at this point, a logical person asks if Prospero has enough magic to cause a storm at sea, why didn't he just magic himself and Miranda off the island years ago? Good question. I don't have the answer.

But anyway, once they are all on the island together, Prospero uses a local spirit, Ariel, to contrive a bunch things to happen in order to lead to justice. It's a bit convoluted with several storylines going on at once, but easy enough to follow as you read the play.

I liked it. I liked the little love story that developed between Miranda and Ferdinand, despite the fact that Miranda was a tad witless (well, what do you expect after being stranded on an island for all those years?). I liked Prospero quite well and the baddies in the story were *really* bad.

Good stuff....you can finish it in an afternoon.