The Winter's Tale has long been considered one of Shakespeare’s "problem plays." The "problem" lies in the fact that the two halves of the play are at odds with one another. The first half concerns the crazed King Leontes as he goes about exacting revenge on his wife, and others of his court, for her imagined infidelity. Here Leontes is played by the talented Geoff Elliot, who goes for broke in portraying his overweening jealousy. Unlike Othello, Leontes has no proof except in his mind. Elliot’s choice is a good one because he doesn’t try to come up with a reason for Leontes' jealousy. To Elizabethans jealousy was a humor and without cause. The story is also not a realistic story but a tale told to pass the cold winter nights and provide some redemption, like the coming of spring, in the end.
The second half shifts to a romantic pastoral story, with shepherds, bears, rogues, treasure, and song. But this is the passage to a fruitful spring, where all ends well and marriage is the word of the day. The amusing Autolycus, here well played by Tom Beyer, is there to remind us that all is not right in the pasture (he robs them all blind). But in the world of Shakespeare even the most tragic situation must be made whole and aligned with nature. In Hamlet the kingdom is restored, in Othello the bad guys are punished, and in The Winter's Tale the dead come back to life, the widow finds a groom, and children and parents are reunited.
As usual at A Noise Within, the cast does not disappoint. Stephen Rockwell brings dignity to Polixenes, and Mitchell Edmonds and William Dennis Hunt add seasoned support in the roles of the Old Shepherd and Camillo respectively. Jill Hill surprised me with her range. She is a talented comedienne, but here shows a deep understanding of the jilted Hermione. Her trial scene is very moving. Debra Strang is outstanding as Paulina, who dares to speak up to Leontes in his rage.
Geoff Elliot and his wife Julia Rodrigues-Elliot provided the illuminating direction. The superior lighting was by Peter Gottlieb. The live violin music by Endre Balogh was a great addition and helped set the mood. The strange set by Darcy Scanlin with its moveable poles left me indifferent. Through Dec. 8th In repertory with Dear Brutus and Waiting for Godot at A Noise Within.
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