The Winter’s Tale 12-13

A celebration in the art of storytelling, the STC presents The Winter’s Tale, one of Shakespeare’s late romances. Traveling through time, visiting the austere court at Sicilia and the bright sea shore of Bohemia, two generations transcend torment and obsession. The Winter’s Tale is a compassionate and dazzling saga that tells the tale of King Leontes, who is overcome with jealousy when he believes his pregnant wife Hermione and his good friend King Polixenes are lovers. Director Rebecca Taichman, whose Cymbeline was “brimming with both heart and good humor” (Washington City Paper) and whose Twelfth Night was “gorgeously romantic… as a brand new as a first kiss” (The Downtowner) returns to direct this classic piece through imagination and wit.

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ASIDES MAGAZINE

View a program from the production.

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[accordion-item title=”Synopsis”]
In the royal court of Sicilia, King Leontes, with his expectant wife Hermione and son Mamillius, prepares to say farewell to Leontes’ visiting boyhood friend, King Polixenes of Bohemia. When Hermione is able to persuade Polixenes to remain in Sicilia after her husband cannot, Leontes convinces himself that Hermione and Polixenes are having an affair. Consumed with irrational jealousy, Leontes confides his suspicions to his trusted courtier Camillo and orders Polixenes to be poisoned. Instead of obeying his king’s orders, Camillo escapes with Polixenes to Bohemia instead.

While imprisoned and awaiting trial for her supposed crime, Hermione gives birth to a daughter. Paulina, a loyal noblewoman, brings the newborn to Leontes, hoping that the child will move him to release Hermione from her imprisonment. Instead, Leontes becomes further enraged and commands Antigonus, Paulina’s husband, to take the infant into the wild and abandon it there while her mother stands trial.

Pleading not guilty, Hermione begs her husband to relent. As the sentence is about to be announced, a post returns from Apollo’s Oracle at Delphos, bringing a scroll proclaiming Hermione’s innocence. Leontes, determined to punish his wife, disregards the Oracle. Immediately, news of Prince Mamillius’s death is brought to the chamber. Shocked over the death of her son, Hermione faints and is escorted out by her women. Finally recognizing his foolishness, Leontes repents, but he is too late. Paulina returns to announce that Queen Hermione also is dead. Grief-stricken, Leontes dedicates himself to a life of penitence and remembrance.

Meanwhile, Antigonus brings the newborn royal daughter to Bohemia, where he reports that Hermione appeared to him in a dream, bidding that he name the child Perdita. He leaves the baby on the Bohemian shore with a bag of gold and documents that reveal her name, high birth and unfortunate fate, before he is killed by a bear. Perdita is rescued by a good shepherd and his son who vow to care for her.

Sixteen years pass. Perdita grows into a young woman. Raised as the shepherd’s daughter, she is courted by King Polixenes’ son Florizel, who is unaware of her real parentage. At a sheep-shearing feast, Polixenes discovers his son’s conduct and attempts to separate the two lovers, but, with the help of Camillo, the couple is able to escape to Leontes’ court in Sicilia.

Leontes welcomes the young lovers, not realizing that the beautiful maiden is the daughter he abandoned long ago. Polixenes and Camillo soon arrive, bringing information of Perdita’s background and causing more truths to be revealed, bringing a happy and miraculous conclusion to the trials of both royal families.

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[accordion-item title=”The Cast”]
Sean Arbuckle*
Polixenes

Todd Bartels*
Dion/Florizel

Brent Carver*
Camillo

Mark Harelik*
Leontes/Autolycus

Nancy Robinette*
Paulina/Bohemian Townsperson

Tom Story*
Cleomenes/Young Shepherd (Clown)

Ted van Griethuysen*
Antigonus/Old Shepherd

Heather Wood*
Mamillius/Time/Perdita

Hannah Yelland*
Hermione

* Member of Actors’ Equity Association, the Union of Professional Actors and Stage Managers.
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[accordion-item title=”The Artistic Team”]
Rebecca Taichman
Director

Christine Jones
Set Designer

David Zinn
Costume Designer

Christopher Akerlind
Lighting Designer

Nico Muhly
Composer

Matt Tierney
Sound Designer

Stephen Feigenbaum
Music Director

Camille A. Brown
Choreographer

Gillian Lane-Plescia
Vocal Coach

Ellen O’Brien
Head of Voice and Text

Laura Stanczyk, CSA
Casting Director

Daniel Neville-Rehbehn
Resident Casting Director

Carrie Hughes and Drew Lichtenberg
Production Dramaturgs

Jenny Lord
Assistant Director

Alison Cote*
Production Stage Manager

Elizabeth Clewley*
Assistant Stage Manager
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