Something strange, funny, upbeat, and wonderfully modern
450 7th Street NW
Washington, DC 20004-2207
Phone: 202.547.1122
Toll-free: 1-877-4TST-TIX (1.877.487.8849)
TTY: 202.638.3863 (deaf patrons only)
Fax: 202.638.3869
http://www.shakespearetheatre.org/index.html
Review by Rich See,
dcmdva-arts.org reviewer
For something very different head over to The Shakespeare Theatre and see their current production of The Winter’s Tale. With Michael Kahn’s direction this schizophrenic story of sudden insanity, saintly forgiveness, and love conquering death - becomes something strange, funny, upbeat, and wonderfully modern—kind of avant-garde Shakespeare. Through ingenious set devices, physical humor, and excellent actors, Kahn has once again made Shakespeare’s words accessible.
When you go, be sure to appreciate Walt Spangler’s set. It is a treasure of extremes. First as a land of constant winter with mirrored glass, sliding panels, and minimal furniture. Then as an alpine village in spring, complete with budding flowers and sheep.
The superior cast includes Philip Goodwin as Leontes, King of Sicilia; Lise Bruneau as Leontes’ wife Queen Hermoine; Brent Harris as King Polixenes, Jeremiah Wiggins as Polixenes’ son Prince Florizel; Tana Hicken as the reproachful Paulina; and Helmar Augustus Cooper, as Camillo, the long suffering assistant to the two demanding kings. David Sabin is exceptional as the Old Shepherd and Patrick Ellison Shea is his naïve son the Young Shepherd.
A little background, which might help in understanding the story…
Written towards the end of the Bard’s career, The Winter’s Tale was part of a series of plays, which included Pericles, Cymbeline, and The Tempest. It was in these romances; also called tragicomedies, that Shakespeare reworked themes that he had already covered previously. Each story is about incredible loss and miraculous recovery. The pieces usually start out after a terrible misfortune happens, which is overcome only after an amazing adventure occurs during which there is an intense period of suffering. The adventures typically involve journeys, shipwrecks, oracles, prophesies, supernatural apparitions, and miracles. It was a genre that Shakespeare worked hard at mastering, although the productions were not, at the time, always universally well received. The Winter’s Tale is an interesting mix of traditional English literature mixed with a healthy dose of Roman mythology.
The plot…
The story begins with King Polixenes visiting his childhood friend, King Leontes of Sicilia. Having stayed with King Leontes and his pregnant wife, Queen Hermoine, for nine months, Polixenes announces his plans to return to his own kingdom of Bohemia. Leontes, having enjoyed his friend’s company, asks Polixenes to remain in Sicilia a bit longer. When Polixenes remains firm in his refusal, Leontes persuades Hermoine to request that Polixenes continue his visit to their kingdom. At the queen’s persistent entreaties, Polixenes agrees to stay. But far from making him happy, his friend’s quick turn around sends Leontes into an inexplicable jealous insanity. Where upon he quickly plans Polixenes’ and Hermoine’s deaths. What happens next is that: Leontes ignores the prophesy of the Oracle of Delphi; Leontes and Hermoine’s son dies of a broken heart over his mother’s imprisonment; Polixenes escapes; Hermoine does not, but instead gives birth to a daughter who is left to die in the woods; a polar bear eats a member of the Sicilia court; and father and son sheep herders stubble onto a royal birthright. End of Act One.
Act Two opens 16 years later in Bohemia where Polixenes has a son who is deeply, much to the aged king’s contempt, in love with an oddly regal shepherdess, who seems to be smarter, prettier, and cleaner than the rest of the simple country folk. Soon a sheep-shearing festival is scheduled and Perdita, Prince Florizel’s secret love, is named the hostess by her father, the Old Shepherd (that’s his name, check the program). The king and his assistant, Camillo, attend in disguise and by the end of the festivities everything is, unfortunately, out in the open. Florizel is disinherited. Perdita is scheduled for disfigurement, so that she will be less attractive than the rest of the simple country folk. And the Old Shepherd is sentenced to die for having a daughter who could be loved by a prince. [Interesting side note: The sheep shearing festival is the second longest scene (Act 4, Scene 4) in Shakespeare’s canon and is almost a one act play in and of itself.] With so much unhappiness about to occur, the young lovers set sail to Sicilia to seek refuge with the old and still repenting, King Leontes, who broods daily over his moment of regretful insanity. The King of Bohemia soon follows; along with the Old and Young Shepherds who have some interesting things to tell Polixenes, in an attempt to change his mind about having them hung. And it is back in Sicilia, when all are reunited, that the play comes to its miraculous conclusion.
Although long, The Winter’s Tale is an interesting ride through one of Shakespeare’s lesser known and performed pieces. But be forewarned, The Winter’s Tale is just that—a fanciful story of miraculous redemption that requires you to suspend your belief system in order to appreciate its magic on these cool fall nights. Enjoy!