Shakespeare is alive and well at the newly renovated Folger Theatre, inaugurated by one of the master's so-called "problem plays," simply defined as a mixture of drama and comedy, a "tragicomedy," the latter scattered throughout The Winter's Tale.
Sex, murder, and (surprise!) a love triangle take center stage as the jealous King Leontes (Hadi Tabbal) falsely accuses his wife, the pregnant Hermione (Antoinette Crowe-Legacy) of infidelity with his best friend, Polixenes (Drew Kopas), king of Bohemia.
King Leontes sends his wife to prison for her supposed infidelity where she dies after giving birth to Perdita.
Grief stricken over the death of his mother causes Leontes and Hermione's beloved son, Mamillius (Richard Bradford and/or Clarence Michael Payne) to fall ill and die, one of the play's tragedies.
But back to the baby whom King Leontes proceeds to exile in what turns out to be, yep, Bohemia, where she is raised by shepherds for sixteen years and falls in love with the son of Leontes's friend, who is - surprise!- Polixenes.
When Perdita (Kayleandra White) returns home, a statue of Hermione miraculously "comes to life," and everyone is reconciled for another of the master's happy endings. (Shakespeare has a way of tying all the loose ends together for what is a story with a happy ending in the middle? Not a good one!)
When Hermione's friend, Paulina (Kate Eastwood Norris) tries to persuade the king of his irrationality, one wishes that Pauline's words prevailed in today's political discourse:
The silence often of pure innocence
Persuades when speaking fails.
King Leontes (Hadi Tabbel) talks evil with Camillo (Cody Nickell) in Folger Theatre's The Winter Tale; Brittany Diliberto, photohis st
The powerful performance of Hadi Tabbal as King Leontes is dramatic with delivery and actions which easily command every scene he's in, as it should be.
At the end when all the living players are united, and Hermione comes alive from her statuesque position to enchant her husband all over again, there is much rejoicing and good cheer.
Shakespeare even tries to assuage Paulina's sorrow over the death of her husband, Antigonus (Stephen Patrick Martin), who has been killed by a bear while sleeping on the Bohemian beach to protect the infant, by marrying Camillo (Cody Nickell). (You have to be there.)
(One of the marvels of the show was Crowe-Legacy's ability to stand silently without movement for several minutes like the statue she was, and my proximity to the stage allowed me to view her closely.)
The Winter's Tale is one for all seasons for it kept me going all night without my breaking into slumber which usually is my condition around the second act.
Raul Abrego, Jr.'s minimalist scenic design detracts none from the action and dialogue, often seized by the whimsy of Autolycus (Reza Salazar) who periodically shows off his shiny new bicycle with a radio to streak across the stage and into the background (with sound).
Costume designer Sarah Cubbage mixes up the old with the new which fits Autolycus's antics just fine.
All's well that ends well which it does here for we like happy endings, especially at this time of year! Thank you, Folger and Shakespeare.
Other cast members are Nicholas Gerwitz, Jonathan Del Palmer, and Sabrina Lynne Sawyer.
The creative team included Tamilla Woodard, director; Chelsea Dean, properties; Max Doolittle, lighting; Matthew M. Nielson, sound and composer.
Also, Kaja Dunn, intimacy; Joya Powell, choreographer; LaShawn Melton, hair and wigs; Michele Osherow, dramaturg; Lisa Nathans, vocal coach; Leigh Robinette and Taylor Kiechlin, production stage managers; Kacie Pimentel, assistant stage manager; Shana Laski, assistant director; and Tara-Whitney Rison, assistant to the director.
Folger's Winter's Tale is one of 12 different Shakespeare productions in the District's Shakespeare Everywhere Festival, some performed through the end of the year.
(It always benefits me to read a summary of the play before I see it, rather like reading up on a country's history and culture before I visit it.)
What: The Winter's Tale by William Shakespeare
When: Now through Dec.17, 2023
Where: Folger Theatre, 201 East Capitol Street, SE, Washington, D.C. 20003
Tickets: Buy online, by phone (202-544-7077), or at the box office.
Metro station: Capitol South or Union Station
For more information: 202-544-4600 or info@folger.edu
Duration: 2.5 hours with one 15-minute intermission
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