By Lani Fredrickson
New World Shakespeare’s production of A Winter’s Tale, performed at Salt Lake City’s Lightree Studios is quirky, interesting, and filled with Shakespeare ala New World’s usual delightful rendition.
Director Elise Hanson has directed and performed with New World Shakespeare for over ten years, and the quality of this production of A Winter’s Tale shows this excellence and familiarity with the work. Hanson is an award-winning playwright, and as a director, she affords her actors freedom to create. She presented a well thought out adaptation of William Shakespeare’s script, complete with music, lighting cues, and stage directions that helped each actor understand her vision from the get go. She sets the play in the silent film era, and casts “Time” as a Charlie Chaplinesque guide ( Hanson) to help audiences navigate the story. Her adaptation cuts some of the lines, and adds delicious commentary to help illuminate some of the story elements. One younger viewer, Pidge, said this about the direction, “I thought it was clever how the audience was involved, especially via stage entrances and exits. Act II was my favorite because of the mixing of Shakespearean and modern English.” The fun secret is that they don’t mix modern English into the Shakespeare, but audiences generally find that they begin to understand the language better as the play progresses, especially under Hanson’s deft hand as a director.
A Winter’s Tale is a romance. This means that the play is both a tragedy and a comedy. During the first half, we see King Leontes, (Ryan Kinville) descend into madness as he imagines his faithful Queen Hermione, (Isabella Giordano) to be an adulteress with his best friend Polixenes, (Ammar Al Saffar.) Everyone tries to warn him, including his advisors Camilla (Sierra Shephard), Antigonus (Elizabeth Hanley), and Paulina, (Genesis Eve Garcia). Because he refuses to listen to anyone, he loses everyone, including his young son Mamillius (Riley Moore). But before the audience can succumb to the heartbreak of the first act, Shakespeare indicates a big change to comedy with his stage direction, “Exit, pursued by a bear.”
Companies throughout the ages have interpreted this stage direction in a multitude of comedic ways. The company chose to do a big old dance number. Everyone in the cast rushes the stage in bear ears and boogie down to “The Bear Necessities”. Welcome to the comedic portion of our show! Welcome to Bohemia! In Bohemia, we meet Shepherd (played by Cami Rozanas), his daughter Tulip (Yokel), (Rachel Norton), and his adopted daughter Perdita, (Riley Moore). Perdita has fallen in love with Florizel, the son of King Polixenes, (Grant Christopherson), and hijinks ensue as they try to hide their love from his father. Their love is made public at the sheep shearing festival where Dorcas, (Elizabeth Hanley) Dudley, (Eddie Garcia), and the whole cast sing and dance among a bevy of flowers. During the festival Autolycus (Hanson), comes as a peddlar to sell her wares and ballads to the partygoers.
At this point, I’ve introduced the whole cast, and much of the story to you. I will refrain from spelling out the ending, just know that like all of Shakespeare’s comedies, the story ends with a wedding, but in a magical, unworldly way, unlike anything you could imagine. It is delightful to see the smiling, shining eyes of audience members as they experience the story coming full circle. This play is about redemption, forgiveness, and love. It is a winter’s tale, but it ends with the hope of spring.
Here are some of the comments of our audience members:
Daphne, a middle schooler, said, “The actors were phenomenal. The script was easy to understand, and it was heartfelt, both in tragedy and comedy.”
Finn, another middle schooler, said, “It was enjoyable to watch. Sometimes Shakespeare is hard for me to understand, or I lose interest, but they made this show easy to follow.”
Naomi, an elementary school student, said, “I really liked it! 6/5 stars! It was so sad, but then you’re laughing your head off. Leontes’ feelings were very real.”
From older audience members, (and by older, I mean, over 18):
Tanis Johnson said, “I enjoyed the intimacy of the venue, that the actors didn’t need mics, that most of the stage entrances and exits were through the midst of the audience. There were times I felt I needed to applaud to keep up with theater etiquette, but the pace and intensity of the play stayed my hands, and somehow it felt appropriate to remain quiet so as not to disrupt the emotion adeptly set by the cast. In that vein, each cast member played more than one part, and each did a fine job completely separating the roles. All said, well done!”
Beth Anne Martin said, “The whimsey that Elise brought to A Winter’s Tale brought the story to life in a new, fantastical way. The actors were entertaining and perfectly cast and a delight to watch. This has to be my favorite Shakespearean production ever.”
Dustin Kennedy, admittedly one of the producers, said this, “Thank you to the cast of A Winter’s Tale for a very fun and engaging interpretation of this classic. I loved the weaving together of all the storylines from such a talented and committed cast. Very funny and witty delivery.”
Faye Giordano said, “Comedy or Tragedy. No need to choose. Prepare yourself for a roller coaster ride of emotions.”
Nancy Kinville said, “We enjoyed the play and the actors were great. We are looking forward to seeing other shows in the future.”
Joel Hanson said, “This is a really touching story. I had never seen it before and it’s really unusual and magical. Right and left brain somersaults.”
Becky Crowley said, “This was so amazing and unique. I can tell Elise had a specific vision for it. In parts I was laughing so hard, and by the end I was crying.”
The set is designed by Blayne Wiley and Elise C. Hanson, the lighting design is by Blayne Wiley, with consultation by Lee Hollar. The sound design is by E. C. Hanson, and the costumes and props are provided by the ensemble. The play is produced by Blayne Wiley, Dustin Kennedy, E. C. Hanson, and Jeff L. Stinson.
If you want Shakespeare with a hilarious twist, go see A Winter’s Tale. It’s Shakespeare as you’ve never seen it before.
A Winter’s Tale closes this Sunday, but you still have four chances to see the show. April 27-29, 2023, 7:30 PM, April 30, 2023 2:30 PM. You can purchase tickets for $20 at www.newworldshakespeare.com . Performances take place at Lightree Studios, 740 W 1700 S, Ste 9, Salt Lake City. The venue appears to be an odd location for Shakespeare, but there is plenty of parking, and no stairs to worry about.
Photo credit: Elise Hanson
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