Modelled along the lines of New York City's Shakespeare in the Park, Boston's Commonwealth Shakespeare Company (CSC) is offering Shakespeare's The Tempest through Aug. 13 at the Parkman Bandstand in the Boston Common.

Shakespeare's tale of enchantment and love -- in all its simplicity, complexity and purity -- is told by CSC using such diverse traditions as "African storytelling, Japanese Butoh dance, Italian commedia dell' arte, and Caribbean Carnival."

Directed by Steven Maler, the cast for The Tempest features the voice of PBS' "Frontline," Will Lyman (Prospero), American Repertory Theatre regulars Thomas Derrah (Caliban), Jeremiah Kissel (Stephano), Paula Plum (Trinculo), and A.R.T. graduates Kwana Martinez (Miranda), Martin Berryman (Ferdinand) and Antonio Suarez (Ariel). Also included in the cast are Mia Anderson, Kate Clark, John Davin, Marie Larkin, Doug Lyons, Gilbert Owour, Troy Siegfried, Donna Sorbello and Jake Suffian.

The production team for The Tempest comprises set designer Scott Bradley, costume designer Rafael Jaen, lighting designer John Malinowsky and sound designer J. Hagenbuckle.

CSC has presented summer productions in Boston since 1996. Julius Caesar (1999), As You Like It (1998) and Romeo and Juliet (1997) have been staged at the Boston Common, while A Midsummer Night's Dream (1996) was presented at Copley Square. Performances are free. For further information call CSC at (617) 423 7600.

-- By Murdoch McBride