‘The Winter’s Tale’ Review: A Fable That’s Fit for Summer
The New York Times • • entertainment
Key Points:
- The Public Theater’s Shakespeare in the Park presents “The Winter’s Tale,” directed by Daniel Sullivan, highlighting contemporary parallels through the portrayal of Leontes, a paranoid and tyrannical king.
- The play unfolds in two parts: the first in Sicilia, where Leontes’ baseless jealousy causes tragedy, and the second set 16 years later in Bohemia, where new tensions arise.
- Sullivan’s production balances the play’s tonal shifts, excelling particularly in the opening acts and the emotional finale, supported by strong performances from Lily Rabe as Hermione and Marsha Stephanie Blake as Paulina.
- Raúl Esparza’s nuanced portrayal of Leontes captures the destructive impact of the king’s mistrust on himself and others, eliciting a complex sympathy despite the character's flaws.
- While the play's unevenness is acknowledged, the production’s faithfulness and the cast’s compelling performances bring depth to Shakespeare’s complex narrative of tragedy, comedy, and forgiveness.
