There is very little as far as set dressing in this production, just a couple of chairs on an otherwise bare stage, much like what we know of the productions from Shakespeare’s own time. The performances are the focus, and this production features some excellent performances, by Hendry and Geer, as well as by Tim Halligan as Antigonus, Melora Marshall as Paulina, Earnestine Phillips as the Old Shepherd, Daniel Ramirez as Clown, Franc Ross as Camillo, and Gerald C. Rivers as Autolycus, among others. As the play begins, many of the characters engage in a dance, and interestingly we see Polixenes (Max Lawrence) and Hermione together in the center, which might give a little more weight to Leontes’ suspicions. In this production, we do get the sense that what eventually erupts into a jealous rage has actually been brewing under the surface for a time, though he’s been quietly fighting that idea within himself. There is some playful business between Polixenes and Leontes, which works well at showing they’ve been friends since childhood. As Hermione goes to kneel to beg Polixenes to stay, others go to assist her, thinking it might be some pain due to her pregnancy, a nice touch. There is also a perfect stage picture as Leontes and Hermione embrace, Polixenes just upstage of them and between them. What is also wonderful in this scene is that we see the fondness and love that both Leontes and Hermione have for their child Mamillius (Julius Geer-Polin). It is important to see how much the young prince means to Leontes, so that we feel for the king as he descends into the madness of jealousy, that we get a strong sense of what he loses. Aaron Hendry does such a good job that we in the audience both want to smack him and comfort him. And we look to Camillo to speak for us on stage. Franc Ross does an excellent job as Camillo in this scene. On Leontes’ “My wife is slippery,” Camillo steps back, shocked at what he is hearing, which is perfect. Leontes is lost to anger on his “You lie,” and in that moment we get the sense he is just a step away from violence. It is a powerful and exciting moment. And even then Leontes attempts to calm himself by sitting on his throne, positioned just to the right of the audience.
A little later, when Leontes is in his rage, Paulina steps in front of the other women, as if to protect them, and particularly Hermione, from any violence. I love the relationship between Paulina and Antigonus, and both actors do fantastic jobs in those roles. We find ourselves thinking, if only Leontes would be a little more like Antigonus. However, it is interesting that Antigonus does not tell Paulina about the task given him by Leontes, for later when Leontes says “Thy brat hath been cast out,” she reacts in as much horror and shock as the other women. There is a wonderful moment when Leontes bends down and Hermione goes to touch him, to cure him of this temper. Shakespeare has created a strong character in Hermione, and Willow Geer embodies that strength, and that love. When she enters for her trial, it is from below, like she is emerging from a personal hell, and yet, even in her plain shift and her weakened state, she has a dignity that is to be admired by all in the audience and nearly all who surround her on stage. When Hermione begins to speak, it is out to the audience, but as she gathers her strength, she addresses Leontes directly. Willow Geer is superb in this scene. On her “mistake me not,” she steps out from behind the dock, trying to show strength and to keep from having to lean on that wooden structure.
When Paulina tells Leontes of his wife’s fate, she nearly spits the word “dead” at him. The word is thrust at him like a dagger, and wounds him just as surely. A little later, when Antigonus speaks of his dream of Hermione, Hermione appears upstage of him, entering like a ghost. It feels a somewhat odd choice, because then it is like she is appearing to us as well as to Antigonus, leading us to believe she really is dead. There is another question about that in the text, for Leontes demands to be taken to the bodies of his wife and son. In that moment, so soon after Hermione’s supposed death, would Hermione have had the power and mind to play dead so convincingly? Or did she truly seem dead for a time? We don’t know, because the text doesn’t present the scene. On Antigonus’ “melted into air,” Hermione wails and runs off upstage right. It is the description of Antigonus’ dream, so what we are seeing is his imagination, but it still leaves the impression that Hermione is actually dead. That is followed by that most famous of stage directions, “Exit, pursued by a bear.” And in this production, there is someone in a bear costume who chases Antigonus off stage, and it works. Hermione also appears as Time, the Chorus at the beginning of the fourth act, with Perdita (Sophia Dawson) entering when she is mentioned.
In this production, the Old Shepherd is female, played by Earnestine Phillips, who does a really nice job. The change in gender means that some lines also change, such as “You’re a made old man” becoming “You’re a made old woman.” Another performance that stands out is by Daniel Ramirez as the Old Shepherd’s son, identified as Clown in the text. It is he who speaks the “You’re a made old woman” line. Both are hilarious in that moment when they realize they are rich. But even before that, Ramirez is great as he enters running from the woods off left, and, in an excited state, tells his tale of the ship and the bear. Ramirez is also wonderful when later he gets help from audience members in reading the list of items he is to procure. Particularly hilarious is his delivery of “I must have saffron” after an audience member reads that item from his paper. It’s an absolutely wonderful touch.
Archidamus (Andy Stokan) is added to the scene of Polixenes and Camillo, and with a gesture rather than a line, it is he who gives Polixenes the idea of he and Camillo disguising themselves to see what Polixenes’ son is up to, a humorous moment. For now, of course, the play has moved firmly into the realm of comedy, and so it is the perfect time for Autolycus to make his entrance. He is delightful as he sings his song and encourages the audience to respond. And after lifting the Clown’s purse, he delivers his “charitable office” line to the audience, drawing us into his petty crime, seeming to make us accessories. He is also wonderful when peddling his wares, flanked by Dorcas (Shoshanna Green) and Mopsa (Aubrey Sage), who are themselves delightful. Later his “I have sold all my trump-ery” line gets an appreciate laugh from the audience, folks finding some relief after Trump was found guilty on all thirty-four counts last week.
This company always makes great use of the beautiful area surrounding the actual stage, and it makes sense that once the action moves to a more pastoral setting that the area would be used more, as it is for the first entrance of the Clown, and likewise the entrances of Perdita and Florizel (Christian Jordan Smith). Perdita is adorable on her “What would he say?” And after Polixenes and Camillo enter in disguise, she hands them flowers, a much happier version of Ophelia’s action. Sophia Dawson has a joyous energy that is delightful. Hers is the energy that is really at the heart of these scenes, in contrast to the first half of the play. What is interesting is that when Polixenes gets angry at his son, he reminds us of Leontes, and so by that parallel itself, we know that he is wrong and acting foolishly. And his anger leads the action back to Sicilia, where Leontes is no longer in that frame of mind. Once there, Perdita’s innocence regarding courtly manners is touching. Florizel helps her to kneel before Leontes, a nice moment. Paulina takes great delight in her scheme about choosing a queen for Leontes. And the revealing of the “statue” is done really well. Hermione stands above the others upstage, far enough from the audience that we see no movement before it is intended. And her first movement is to incline her head, before slowly approaching Leontes. By the way, there is a nice silent exchange between the Old Shepherd and Clown when Hermione and Perdita embrace. Again, this is just the sort of ending we are looking for in this nation. As the Old Shepherd says, “thou mettest with things dying, I with things new born.” Something good and positive and new can follow a period of misery and strife.
This production of The
Winter’s Tale was directed by Ellen Geer. It runs through September 30,
2024, being performed in repertory with A
Midsummer Night’s Dream, Wendy’s
Peter Man, Tartuffe: Born Again,
and The
Hispanic/Latino/Latina/Latinx/Latine Vote. Visit the theatre’s web site for
the complete schedule. This is one intermission, coming at the end of Act III. Will
Geer Theatricum Botanicum is located at 1419 N. Topanga Canyon Blvd., in
Topanga, California.
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| production photo by Ian Flanders |
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