THE WINTER'S TALE To 28 November.

Tour.

THE WINTER’S TALE
by William Shakespeare.

Schtanhaus, Nuffield Theatre Southampton and Headlong Theatre Tour to 28 November 2009.
Run: 2hr 45min One interval.
For tour details see Mark Courtice's review at Southampton Nuffield Theatre.
Review: Alan Geary 21 October at Lakeside Arts Centre Nottingham.

An alternative view sees this as a definite go-see.
It’s not at all obvious why Shakespeare’s The Winter’s Tale is so infrequently performed. As this touring production from Southampton’s Nuffield Theatre and Schtanhaus in association with Headlong Theatre demonstrates, it’s a great play.

Famously a play of two halves, its themes are repentance, forgiveness and reconciliation; but there are a lot of laughs to be had along the way, especially after the interval, when we also get some song and dance.

There’s a strong cast. Vince Leigh is a fine Leontes, notably in the early jealousy scene and later, when he realises his tragic blunder of perception. He delivers a measured and unpretentious performance. Amanda Ryan (Hermione), John Hodgkinson (Autolycus and Antigonus) and Golda Rosheuvel (particularly as Paulina) are excellent. Bryony Hannah, very good as Mamillius, is however miscast in the role of Perdita, to which she seems physically unsuited.

Director Simon Godwin brings out the crucial contrasts in the play very effectively. Most obviously, we have that between the atmospheres of Sicilia (slightly menacing men-in-suits territory) and Bohemia (all that knockabout peasant revelry). But he also highlights the potentially overlooked parallel between Leontes’s demolition of his family and Polixenes’s treatment of his son.

Set and scene-changing are pleasantly unfussy; the costumes are essentially thirties.

Polixenes/A Mariner: James Buller.
Camillo/Officer of the Court: Matthew Douglas.
Mamillius/Emelia/Perdita: Bryony Hannah.
Antigonus/Autolycus: John Hodgkinson.
A Lord/Young Shepherd: Gwynfor Jones.
A Lord/Florizel: Ferdinand Kingsley.
Leontes: Vince Leigh.
Paulina/Time/Old Shepherdess: Golda Rosheuvel.
Hermione/Pastoral Servant: Amanda Ryan.

Director: Simon Godwin.
Designer: Miriam Nabarro.
Lighting: James Farncombe.
Sound/Music: Simon McCorry.

2009-10-25 11:52:59