From Nov. 7 to 10, Stefano Boselli (Theatre) participated in the 121st Pacific and Ancient Modern Language Association (PAMLA) Conference, “Translation in Action,” held in Palm Springs, CA. As part of his contributions, Boselli organized the Drama and Society I and II standing sessions and presented his paper, “Shipwrecked in Paradise: Expanding Consciousness in Michael Fleck’s The Tempest, A New Age Adaptation” for the “Shakespeare and the Early Moderns” panel. Boselli’s research highlighted Fleck’s 1977 adaptation of The Tempest, performed at the Maui Community Theatre, Hawaii. This reimagining channels the “consciousness revolution” of the 1970s, blending Shakespeare’s timeless characters with New Age spirituality and ecological themes. Fleck’s Prospero, re-envisioned as a “corporation drop-out,” wields Tai Chi-derived natural energies in place of traditional magick. Supporting characters include devas tied to the elements, an Aikido-practicing Zodiac-named family, and even live plants conveying “greenhouse vibrations.” Set against Hawaii’s Edenic landscape, the play juxtaposes the harmonious coexistence with nature against destructive corporate greed, offering poignant insights into ecological responsibility. Boselli’s presentation highlighted the adaptation’s continued significance in addressing contemporary ecological challenges, as the play pits the Hawaiian Edenic environment against those who want to destroy it for profit.
