Tom Rooney plays Autolycus in Stratford's production of The Winter's Tale.David Hou/Stratford Shakespeare Festival
The Winter's Tale
- Written by William Shakespeare
- Directed by Marti Maraden
- Starring Ben Carlson, Yanna McIntosh, Cara Ricketts, Tom Rooney
- At the Stratford Shakespeare Festival in Stratford, ON
Play at a glance: In this odd romance, the irrationally jealous King Leontes (Ben Carlson) sends his pregnant wife Hermione (Yanna McIntosh) to prison, where she dies, and then exiles his newborn daughter to a certain death. But with the help of a hungry bear, a friendly shepherd and a bit of magic, what's lost is found 16 years later.
First impression: Marti Maraden directs the first part of the play like a Greek tragedy in miniature; it feels at a remove and the performances are unaffecting. As soon as Antigonus exits pursued by a terrifying puppet bear and time flies forward 16 years, however, everything, not just Hermione's statue, comes to colourful life.
Highlights: Tom Rooney is brilliantly witty as cutpurse Autolycus, our immoral guide to the second half. As Paulina, Seana McKenna once again proves herself an expert at twisting the knife while telling of off-stage deaths. And, at the end, Carlson and McIntosh deliver the moving performances we'd hoped for.
The nitpicks: A Celtic-Eastern mishmash of cloaks from the Star Trek meets Lord of the Rings school of Shakespearean design, John Pennoyer's costumes distract and encumber the first part of the play. A crucial early court scene is almost entirely undermined by having Leontes enter dressed in a fur-lined robe borrowed from Cruella de Vil's closet.
Audience instant reaction: Skeptical then won over.
Critic's instant reaction: Three stars (rating subject change overnight - for full review, see Friday's Globe and Mail Review section)
Post-show questions for dinner or drinks: How about that bear?
When Time (Randy Hughson) flies, did you have fun - or did you think it was too silly?