Winter Wonder
Shakespeare's power to amaze and the human heart's ability to endure
Scholars label William Shakespeare's later plays "romances," which in today's vernacular doesn't do them justice. The Winter's Tale, in a visually stirring, superbly acted production opening the Pennsylvania Shakespeare Festival's season, reveals a dramatist challenging his audience with a magical story of power's ability to corrupt and time's capacity for healing.
The seldom-seen play opens happily: Sicilia's King Leontes hosts Bohemia's King Polixenes, but jealousy suddenly seethes within him when this lifelong friend seems too cozy with his pregnant wife, Hermione. Leontes orders Polixenes killed, imprisons his queen and sends his newborn daughter to die while his horrified courtiers reluctantly obey.
Today, a playwright may layer in psychological explanations for Leontes' sudden rev-ersal; director Patrick Mulcahy wisely avoids imposing such a trap. Greg Wood makes Leontes no cartoon monster, but a good man deeply flawed; convinced by his imagination, he agonizes, and we sympathize, though knowing he's wrong. Only Hermione's friend, Paulina, sharply portrayed by Anne Lewis, protests — but what can you do? He's the king.
This sad story unfolds on Bob Phillips' elegant set, defined by gauzy drapes that glow in Steve TenEyck's subtle, sculpted lighting. The audience sits on three sides of the spacious stage in the intimate Schubert Theatre and Mulcahy stages the action flawlessly.
The play "slides o'er 16 years," aided by puckish Anthony Lawton, who plays both narrator Time and mischievous rogue Autolycus in what seems like an entirely different play, a romantic comedy recalling As You Like It, about the disguised Bohemian prince Florizel's love for poor shepherd's daughter Perdita, despite Polixenes' wishes. Absolute power again corrupts, and the two seemingly disparate stories converge in a ethereal scene inviting Leontes, and us, to "awake our faith."
If you've never seen the play — and theatergoers have few opportunities, almost none as worthy as this — my discretion will be rewarded by this production's elegant crescendo.
Strong, clear performances abound, including Wayne S. Turney's heartwarming turn as the old shepherd, John Knauss as his hilariously gangly son, Erin Partin as the lovely Perdita, and H. Michael Walls as faithful servant Camillo. Like The Tempest, The Winter's Tale shows Shakespeare masterfully shaping a story that celebrates theater's power to amaze and the human heart's ability to endure.
The Winter's Tale
Through July 1, Pennsylvania Shakespeare Festival, Shubert Theatre, DeSales University, Center Valley,, 610-282-9455, www.pashakespeare.org
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