The Winter's Tale

[LittleFish8386]

Posted: 9/23/04 at 1:16pm

Because I am a giant Shakespeare nerd, and I own just about all his plays, I decided to read one that I didn't know much about. The Winter's Tale is a romance/comedy that really tugs on your heartstrings and makes you think.

I think they should revive this on Broadway sometime soon. I saw Henry V and thought it was brilliant! Instead of reviving the typical Hamlet, or Macbeth or Midsummers, I think this would make an excellent play.

[MargoChanning]

Posted: 9/23/04 at 1:57pm

"Exit, pursued by a bear" (The greatest stage direction ever).

Winter's Tale was just done at the Delacorte for Shakespeare in the Park a couple of summers ago with Keith David, Aunjanue Ellis and Bronson Pinchot and gets done fairly often by smaller companies around town from time to time.

Because there's so much Shakespeare being done constantly in the city (Richard III is currently at the Public; Rose Rage, Edward Hall's take on the three Henry VI plays is at the Duke; Othello will be at BAM shortly), there's little reason for producers to go to the expense of mounting Shakespeare on Broadway. The exception is Lincoln Center's Vivian Beaumont Theatre which because of its not-for-profit status (and large built-in subscriber base) can mount large scale productions of the classics (Sheridan's "The Rivals" gets its first Broadway production in decades there this December) in an economically viable way. They hosted the Tony winning production of Henry IV with Kevin Kline last season, followed shortly thereafter by Christopher Plummer's King Lear.

Aside from LCT, I can't imagine anyone else producing Shakespeare on commercial Broadway these days -- the audience just isn't there for serious drama anymore (unless, say, Al Pacino, Meryl Streep or some other huge movie star wants to revive one of the major plays). I also don't think "Winter's Tale would be the play a big star would be interested in reviving -- Leontes isn't one of those really great star parts. However, Shakespeare gets plenty of fine, high profile productions in NYC every year -- at the Delacorte, at the Public, BAM, Classic Stage Company, Classical Theatre of Harlem, and elsewhere.

[Guillermo Ugarte]

Posted: 9/23/04 at 3:46pm

Williamstown usually does a lot of classics and Shakespeare. Though the season has passed, you can watch for the upcoming productions.

It's a lovely little New England town and it's a nice drive out of the city.

http://www.wtfestival.org/

[laactress]

Posted: 9/23/04 at 4:05pm

They do this show every year at this tiny little community theater here in Santa Monica, CA. I love it! I saw it for the first time last year and fell in love and yes it is SO sad.