Off-B'way Review: The Winter's Tale

Lily Rabe and Raul Esparza
in The Winter's Tale.
Credit: Joan Marcus

After a radical reinterpretation of Romeo and Juliet, the Public Theater’s summer Shakespeare in the Park returns with a traditional and highly engaging production of The Winter’s Tale, one of the Bard’s lesser-known romances. This has always been one of the more difficult Shakespearean plays to bring off because of its fractured structure. The first half is a florid tragedy of jealousy destroying the peace of the kingdom of Sicilia while the second half is a comic frolic in the countryside of Bohemia. Director Daniel Sullivan balances the two halves perfectly by staging it straightforwardly without “concepts” or gimmicks and simply allowing the fantastic tale to unfold. Even the infamously ridiculous stage direction “exit, pursued by a bear” is cleverly and quickly conveyed the aide of Bradley King’s atmospheric lighting design. Maruti Evans’ imaginative set places the action on a giant clock, denoting the change of seasons and passage of time. The first half is set in wintry ice, suggesting the frigid environment of Sicilia’s court while the second becomes a lush spring garden, evoking the thawing of enmities.

The convoluted, fairy-tale-like storyline is set in motion by the Othello-like madness of King Leontes (an intense Raul Esparza) who suspects his faithful wife Hermione (a magnificent Lily Rabe) of cheating on him with his best friend, the visiting Polixenes, King of Bohemia (charismatic Gilbert Owuor). While imprisoned for her alleged infidelity, Hermione gives birth to a baby girl whom Leontes banishes. The queen dies of grief (or does she?), the child resurfaces in Bohemia sixteen years later, and after many machinations, all ends well.

Chuck Cooper (l.) and cast in
The Winter's Tale.
Credit: Joan Marcus

Sullivan treats the Bard’s fanciful devices as perfectly plausible and focuses on the human emotions generated by the not-quite-believable story. The cast creates credible people caught up in incredible circumstances. The standout is Rabe as the besieged Hermione. In previous productions, this pitiable heroine is played as a weak, defenseless victim, shrinking from her spouse’s unjustified wrath. Rabe is a tigress, railing against her wrongful accusations. Her physical life is startlingly realistic. In the trial scene, where Leontes is set to sentence his wife to death, Rabe as Hermione remembers that she has just given birth and is physically weak and exhausted. She is also dirty and disheveled (Linda Cho created the fanciful costumes). The actress plays against this condition to give full vent to Hermione’s rage and proves herself a roaring advocate for her defense.

Marsha Stephanie Blake, Lily Rabe,
and Raul Esparza in The Winter's Tale.
Credit: Joan Marcus

Esparza takes us on a roller-coaster of emotions from unreasoning jealousy to ragged regret. Marsha Stephanie Blake provides sturdy support as the sage councillor Paulina. Chuck Cooper gives unexpected depth to the comic role of the Old Shepherd who takes in the lost child Perdita (enchanting Isabela Ferrer). Steven Skybell ably doubles in two very different roles as Paulina’s put-upon husband Antigonus and the outrageously rascally theif Autolycus. Michael Khalid Karadsheh, Matthew Eby, Teagle F. Bougere, and Daniel Kyri also have moments to shine in this delightful summer romance spanning winter’s frost and spring’s flowering.

Aug. 11-23. Public Theater at the Delacorte Theater, Central Park at W. 81 St., NYC. Running time: two hours and 50 mins. including intermission. publictheater.org.