The Tempest

"The Tempest" (1611) is popularly believed to be the final piece written for the stage under the sole authorship of William Shakespeare. Some people think he saved the best for last. This great romantic comedy has it all: danger, intrigue, politics, revenge, a mighty sorcerer, his beautiful daughter falling deeply in love at first sight, for the very first time, with the handsome prince who is so conveniently shipwrecked near her beach home. The play still exerts an influence over popular culture four centuries later, ranging from "Forbidden Planet" to "Gilligan’s Island " to "Lost."