Prospero, Stefan L, center, gives his blessing to the marriage of Ferdinand, Justin Macurdy, left, and Miranda, Jackie Mishol, right. Submitted photo

William Shakespeare’s been getting a lot of local attention recently for a guy who’s been dead for over 400 years.

This year, the Pittsburgh Frick and Carnegie Mellon University exhibited his folios and the Butler Little Theatre mounted a production that detailed the creation of those books. Now, Hobnob Theatre adds another jewel to the collection with their production of Shakespeare’s play, “The Tempest” in Preston Park in Butler Township on July 28, 29 and 30, and at the amphitheater in Zelienople on Aug. 4, 5 and 6.

This year brings Hobnob’s second production of the play since 2014. An ideal show for an outdoor performance, “The Tempest” takes place outside, in real-time and has a mix of comedy, romance and revenge; there’s something to appeal to almost everyone.

But there’s nuance and depth to the story that can’t be captured in a simple synopsis, and Hobnob captures this complexity from the start. Director Ken Smith has added an opening sea shanty (the traditional “Haul Away Jow”) sung by the company before the true opening of the play: a violent storm and shipwreck. Through this pairing, the production explains what’s to follow — laughter and tragedy, joy and revenge.

Prospero (played by Stefan L), through the artifice of explaining to his daughter, Miranda (played by Jackie Mishol), how they ended up marooned on the island, reveals to the audience that he has been usurped as the Duke of Milan by his brother and now seeks revenge. L plays the role with the perfect amount of bombast as he directs his magical machinations to restore himself to his Dukedom and marry off his daughter to increase his power. Mirshol’s Miranda is a bright, bubbly and childlike woman, innocent from spending her whole life isolated from other humans.

With his magic, Prospero moves the players to do his bidding as easily as the pieces on the chessboard over which Miranda and her love interest, Ferdinand, Alonso’s son, played by Justin Macurdy, court. Macurdy brings a lovestruck goofy air to Ferdinand as Prospero’s machinations bring him and Miranda together.

Meanwhile, Alonso, King of Naples (Duane Peters) carries the world-weariness and confusion of a man who thinks he has lost his son in the shipwreck. He refuses to hear the consoling words of Adrian (Camden Rockcastle) who embodies a man who attempts to see the best in any situation.

Trinculo, Justin Anderson, center left, and Stephano, Casey Bowser, center right, are tormented by sprites, Molly Miller, left, and Logan S. Adres and Hailey Herrmann, from left. Submitted photo

While Alonso mourns, Antonio (Steve Kalina), Prospero’s brother, brings an evil unctuousness to his role as he whispers violent plans to Sebastienne (Elizabeth Smith), Alonso’s sister, working to convince her to kill her grief-stricken brother and seize the throne for herself.

Ariel, played by Deanna Sparrow, is a creature half in love with her servitude. She delights as she uses her power in the service of Prospero’s schemes while still longing for her liberty.

Sparrow’s physicality brings Ariel to life as she moves from coquettish sprite to terrifying spirit and then back again. The sprites (Molly Miller, Logan S. Andres and Hailey Herrmann) under the command of Ariel are also alternately kind and cruel: one moment bringing food to the shipwrecked sailors and the next appearing as evil hounds in metallic masks.

Caliban, played by Alison Carey, is a pathetic creature whose birthright to the island has been taken by Prospero who now tortures him after his threats toward Miranda. Carey plays the creature as bitter and confused and provides a heartbreakingly poignant monologue in act three.

That’s not to say that the show is a dark one. Comedy is woven throughout by the long-winded proclamations of Gonzalo, played by Craig Peters and the drunken antics of the clown princes of the play, Trinculo (Justin Anderson) and Stephano (Casey Bowser). The pair’s exasperation and loose-limbed physical comedy as they bushwhack around the island, fortified wine in hand, bring real moments of hilarity to the show.

Director Ken Smith effectively uses the space an outdoor stage, but his masterstroke is the use of music and sound effects that suffuse the production: Ariel’s magical verses, Stephano’s drinking songs, even Caliban gets to sing while Holly Furman’s harp, Shaun Donovan’s rainstick and chimes and Liz Flander’s viola punctuate the show with haunting sounds, incidental music between scenes, and full songs.

Hobnob’s “The Tempest” embodies the reasons why the show remains so popular. Beyond the comic turns and the love story, the play asks difficult questions about isolation and manipulation, art and reality, and what seeking complete control of another person does to the soul. Hobnob’s production embraces all of these thorny issues while still reveling in the comic and beautiful parts of life on a cool summer night under the stars.

All shows begin at 6:30 p.m. Tickets are $10 and can be purchased at hobnobtheatre.com/tickets.