Ensemble of “A Winter’s Tale” at Antaeus Theatre (Photo – Jenny Graham)
Shakespeare’s next-to-last (and rarely performed) tale is explosively brought to life in the intimate performance space at Antaeus Theatre Company in Glendale.
By Carol Edger Germain
Director Elizabeth Swain and the talented cast bring the twists and turns, misconceptions, emotional agony, and ultimate understanding and resolution to the bare stage without a second of inaction.
The complicated tale, sometimes seeming like two stories in one, has the audience focusing on every word, assumption, action and reaction as the story speeds along, triggered when Leontes, King of Sicilia, falsely accuses his wife of an affair with his best friend. He sets into motion a series of events that catapult two kingdoms into dishevelment for years but finally spiral toward an ultimate realization, semi-reconciliation and forgiveness.
Without this talented cast, and without a director who is so deeply involved with Shakespeare’s work, this production might have gotten off track, but it stays on track, full speed ahead, and the audience gets a wild, emotional, and action-filled experience. The colorful and musical sheepshearing festival is a particularly fun diversion from the emotional upheaval being experienced by most of the characters.
Two other takeaways stuck with me. First, I learned that “bedswerver” is another term for an adulterer, and I think that we should start using it. Secondly, although currently I appreciate even more the escape into fantasy on the stage as a diversion from all of the negativity and disastrous occurrences in the world lately, I couldn’t help but be struck by the line “This is the time that the unjust man doth thrive.”
The final focus of the play included the concepts of forgiveness, vindication, absolution, and hope. Shortly thereafter, I found myself wondering if those concepts might appear on the horizon of our current reality.
Ensemble of “A Winter’s Tale” (Photo – Jenny Graham)
A Winter's Tale 11 performances remaining 2/26-3/11: Monday 8:00 - 2/26, 3/4, 3/11 Thursday 8:00 - 3/7 Friday 8:00 - 3/1, 3/8 Saturday 8:00 - 2/24, 3/2, 3/9 Sunday 3:00 - 3/10 Antaeus Theatre Company Kiki & David Gindler Performing Arts Center 110 East Broadway Glendale, CA 91205 (between N. Brand Blvd. and Artsakh Ave.) Parking available in the Glendale Marketplace garage at 120 Artsakh Ave. (between Broadway and Harvard) First 90 minutes free, then $2 per hour. Also, free street parking on some streets. Tickets: antaeus.org/productions/the-winters-tale.
Cast Emilia/Perdita - Shannon Lee Clair Autolycus/Lord III - JD Cullum Archidamus/Jailer/Old Shepherd - Paul Eiding Hermione - Kaci Hamilton Mamillius/Time/Servant - Sabrina J. Liu Antigonus/Gentleman - Brian Kim McCormick Florizel/Lord I - Peter Mendoza Polixenes - Ned Mochel Paulina - Ann Noble Lady I/Mopsa/Cleomenes - Catia Ojeda Lady II/Dorcas/Dion - Claire Simba Leontes - Adam J. Smith Camillo/Mariner - Christopher Cappiello/Geoffrey Wade Lord II/Shepherd's Son - Conlan Ledwith/Nathan Woodworth Production Team Director - Elizabeth Swain Scenic Designer - Frederica Nascimento Costume Designer - Carolyn Mazuca Lighting Designer - Vickie J. Scott Sound Designer - Jeff Gardner Choreographer - Annie Yee Props Designer - Aaron Lyons Composer - Donna Cribari Production Stage Manager - Karen Osborne Assistant Director/Production Dramaturg - Kaite Brandt Assistant Stage Manager - Casey Collaso
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