“Headlined by award-winning actor/director David Birney, with a slew of credits on Broadway, at Shakespeare festivals and on television, this well-rounded production earned rapt attention, laughter, relief and grand applause.
After a serendipitous opening night rainout of the theatre’s Shakespeare Festival earlier this month, this particular night gave way to cool breezes and gentle wind for the ingenious set by Mary Myers of staggered sails in their ever chameleon colors of green, purple, gold, pink, and cobalt under the deft lighting design of Brian Aldous.
Television viewers remember Birney in six series including “The Adams Chronicles,” “Serpico,” “St. Elsewhere” and “Bridget Loves Bernie.” His television, theatre and film career of thirty some years coalesces in his performance as Prospero, a sorcerer and the rightful Duke of Milan, evoking a spectrum of emotions and beautifully delivering the Bard’s lines, including those of the famous speech, “…We are such stuff as dreams are made on,” while reassuring his daughter, Miranda, with whom he is marooned on an island, and carrying out plans to recapture his position with the aid of the spirit, Ariel.”— The Westerly Sun, Sunday July 24, 2011
Colonial Theatre's 'Tempest' a welcome treat
“Among the returnees is the star attraction: TV and stage actor David Birney, whose raft of credits over the years have run from
"St. Elsewhere" to "The Adams Chronicles." He plays Prospero, a sorcerer and duke (a theatrical combo, no?) who saw his throne usurped by his own brother and who was then marooned on a remote but magical island.Birney gives quite an effective performance, bristling with the character's anger at his fate, yet burnishing that emotion
with a sense of hurt.Birney and Yvonne Cone, as Prospero's daughter, Miranda, have lovely scenes together.”
— By Kristina Dorsey, The New London Day July 20, 2011
