The Man Behind the Curtain

Ever since our Professor has told us of his favorite performance of The Tempest, done by one all-encompassing man, in the form of a puppet show I haven't been able to shake the idea that every character is one character. The one character who comes to mind, naturally, is Prospero. He has complete control of what's going on. Even though there are subplots which are conspired behind his back still knows who's up to what. There's the Three drunken Stooges who confidently believe they can relinquish Prospero of his power, and there's the shipwrecked sailors consisting of Prospero's aristocratic kin. Propero hatches two plans; one, to have Miranda and Ferdinand fall in love; two, to seek revenge upon Antonio.
Looking back, this is the perfect play for Shakespeare to die on. He's the omnipotent storyteller and controller of contortion. I like to think of Propero's character as William Shakespeare himself. The books are where his knowledge lies. According to history, he rarely stepped in front of the curtain except in character, his character(s). Realistically, he's incognito which provides him a void fill. Being no one give you the power to be anyone.
Propero talks a lot in The Tempest, far more than any other character as a narrator would, and the play ends on his terms and when he sees fit.
Going back to this prodigious performance; the method in which it was performed was right on target. The man behind the curtain is the only performer, and the only performer necessary.