Caliban by the Yellow Sands

arts, performing, fiction · EN

In a captivating tale that intertwines magic and enlightenment, Caliban—the wild son of the witch Sycorax and the malevolent frog-tiger god Setebos—embarks on a quest for knowledge and civility under the guidance of the enigmatic magician Prospero and his gentle daughter, Miranda. As he navigates a world filled with extraordinary visions (including scenes from Shakespeares own plays), poetry, music, and dance, Calibans journey unfolds into a profound exploration of enlightenment amidst the seductive pull of temptation. Serving as both a thematic companion and a potential spiritual prequel to Shakespeares The Tempest, Caliban by the Yellow Sands was an ambitious outdoor community masque, staged from 1916 to 1917 in New York and Boston to commemorate the three-hundredth anniversary of Shakespeares death. With its anti-war message resonating against the backdrop of World War I, this breathtaking spectacle captivated over two hundred thousand spectators and featured 1,500 amateur artisans