A Winter’s Tale is a mixed bag

Even reading it, it's a play that starts out strong but falls apart at the halfway point. I've already questioned whether I want to sit through the production until 11:30 at night knowing how I feel about the play itself. I like its cast and director and part of me hopes they can make the case for it, but part of me doubts they can.

The noises you describe are just part of the live-theatre-in-the-park experience, with some nights being worse than others. Nothing you can do about that.

Honestly, I think it’s worth it for the first part. The second part is irredeemable. So you can go for the first half and leave after intermission.

The play is done straight, no audience participation except one little moment where there’s dancing on stage and one of the players gets the audience to start clapping to the beat. It’s a well directed, well performed show.


The up and down is from audience members who come and go as they please. This isn’t your local community theater Shakespeare in the park, we’re not sitting on blankets and they shouldn’t allow people to leave whenever they feel like it. Lock the doors

Updated On: 7/30/26 at 12:36 PM

Fred Mason said: "I thought it started off strong, the “first act” overall was quite good. Unfortunately it falls apart after intermission and has a completely ridiculous ending. The performances were pretty good all around. The entire show had audience membersconstantly up and down. This should be banned because it’s a huge distraction when people are constantly moving around. Plus there were airplanes and helicopters hovering above. And an ambulance siren outside. And the sound of people talkingin the park. It also started to rain for about 15 minutes and people really started to leave. Not pleasant. The show ran 3.5 hours."

Oh no, Flash! Not airplanes in the sky!!!!! Not ambulances taking people in medical need to hospitals!!!!!! Not people talking in a public park!!!!!!!! Not rain falling (gasp) outside!!!!!!! Halt all NYC flyovers during the show. Don’t allow ambulances and just let people die during the show. Lock gags in park goers mouths during the show. Sounds to me, Flash, like you should not attend anymore outdoor events, Flash. You are not mentally prepared to handle them.