Caliban by the Yellow Sands: A Community Masque of the Art of the Theatre

"Caliban by the Yellow Sands" by Percy MacKaye is a theatrical piece created to celebrate three hundred years since Shakespeare's passing. The story is heavily influenced by "The Tempest," and it follows Caliban as he wrestles with wanting to be free, how art can change people, and how theater can bring people together. The play starts in a shadowy cave where Caliban, Sycorax, and Ariel are with Setebos, an idol that stands for man's more primitive urges. Ariel is desperate to escape, while Caliban craves influence and the chance to show his true worth. The mood shifts between strange and beautiful as Caliban wrestles with who he is, all while a group of spirits sings about wanting to break free. This first scene prepares the audience for a powerful look at how art can raise the spirit, helping it rise above the darker side of humanity that Setebos and his followers represent.