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Navy Pier as seen from the window of the
Chicago Shakespeare Theater
Chicago Shakespeare
Theater
Leontes (center - John Reeger) is suspicious of
the camaraderie between his wife, Hermione
(left - Barbara Robertson) and his friend Polixines
(right - Kevin Gudahl).
Photo Credit: Michael Brosilow
"The Winter's Tale"
plays through June 1, 2003.
review by Ed Vincent
The Tale begins with a very nice
choral number and in a setting
reminiscent of a Jane Austin novel.
The a capella fading vocals matches the diminishing light as the Tale moves
to a new scene. A violin selection welcomes us to a modern setting
of suits, dresses and set in a corporate board room like vision.
The narration of the King is neatly
tucked into the diminished lumens
and the sounds of musical distress.
He is removed from the scene thusly and all attention is focused on his
every word. A fallen chair marks well the mounting tensions of the King,
as suspicion and jealousy begins to raise it's ugly head.
The King charges a friend with the
crime of adultery in words describing the action as; "touched his Queen
forbiddenly...". The young new born daughter from this supposed relation
of affection is brought into the world while the Queen is imprisoned.
When the King is informed of the birth of the infant he believes it to
be a bastard of misfortune, as he speaks; "better burn it now then curse
it later". The idea of burning a new born does not sit well with
the kingdom and the King is persuaded to allow the child a chance at life.
Leontes (John Reeger) resists his wife,
Hermione
(Barbara Robertson) in her attempt to placate
his
suspicion that she is an adulterer.
Photo Credit: Michael Brosilow
The Queen had declared her innocence
of adultery by addressing the act of conspiracy; "on conspiracy the Queen
knows not how it tastes.."
The Oracle from Apollo renders a
verdict of innocence and the
King refuses the council and thereby
insults Apollo. Apollo and
the Gods are not pleased and bring
sorrow to the family. The
sounds of breaking glass and the
destruction of sculpture usher
the judgement of Apollo.
After the intermission, a hip hop
rapping message is given for the
passage of 16 years in time.
The young dancers ply their talents to
the stage and speak while performing
their coreography. Their young joints of supple motion portend perhaps
more than just youthful
exuberance. Their youth also
offers hope.
A Gaelic tune and spoken accents from a similar local leads to laundry sheets being hung on the stage. A lad on a bicycle enters and attempts to grab a young woman's underpants from the laundry line, using his teeth. The audience is pleased with the humor as the second half invigorates the drama with song and dance, enjoined with the comedy of diminished witted characters. Blue grass enhanced fiddling transitions the scene into sheep shearing, a barn filled with workers of both sexes.
42nd Street meets the hairy flaxen
dancers of sheep barbers, as the
drama continues.
Camillo is the catalyst of hope
and advises many with his thoughtful
resolution. An effete speaking
snob of believed social status speaks
down to the common ranks, the same
ranks and below in fact, that
he himself calls home.
Very nicely performed work by the
fine ensemble of Chicago's
Shakespeare Theatre with settings
from a Board room of Enron,
a Jane Austin beginning, sheep
shearing dancing barns, and perhaps
the most noted stage direction
in any play by Shakespeare is in
"The Winters Tale", where it is
noted for the director; "Exit, pursued by a Bear". Chicago Shakespeare
Theatre does a nice job with the Bear using shadows and sound and an
even better job at entertaining.
Chicago Shakespeare Theater
BARBARA
GAINES CRISS HENDERSON
Artistic Director Executive Director
presents
The Winter's Tale
by William Shakespeare
March
22-June 1, 2003
Directed
by ........................MICHAEL BOGDANOV
Scenic
Design..................... DEREK McLANE, USA
Lighting
Design................... ROBERT WIERZEL, USA
Costume Design
..................CLAIRE LYTH
Sound Design
......................SCOTT MYERS, USA
Composer ...........................ALARIC
JANS
Properties Design................
PAMELA L. PARKER
Text Coach .........................KATE
BUCKLEY
Vocal Coach.......................
KRISTINE THATCHER
Casting ................................BOB
MASON
Production Stage
Manager... DEBORAH ACKER, AEA
The Winter's
Tale is sponsored, in part, by
BlueCross
BlueShield of Illinois
Guest Director Michael Bogdanov's
residency at
Chicago Shakespeare Theater is
generously underwritten by
The Elizabeth F. Cheney Foundation.
American Airlines is the official
airline of Chicago Shakespeare Theater.
In order of appearance
- Hermione BARBARA ROBERTSON*
Emilia CAROLYN ANN HOERDEMANN
Mamillius ZACH GRAY
Antigonus TONY DOBROWOLSKI*
Archidamus RONALD KEATON*
Cleomenes JOHN LISTER*
Camillo GREG VINKLER*
Dion DAVID LIVELY*
Polixenes KEVIN GUDAHL*
Mariner KEVIN GUDAHL*
Leontes JOHN REEGER*
Old Shepherd ROBERT SCOGIN*
Ladies to Hermione
Clown JOE FOUST*
CAROLYN ANN HOERDEMANN,
Time JOE FOUST*
CHAVEZ RAVINE
Autolycus JAMES FITZGERALD*
Paulina SUSAN HART*
Florizel BRIAN HAMMAN*
Gaoler/Officer of the Court
Perdita JOHANNA MCKENZIE MILLER*
RONALD KEATON*
Mopsa CAROLYN HOERDEMANN
Dorcas CHAVEZ RAVINE
Musicians:
MACFARLAND KELLY-MASTERTON,
STEVEN C. LEVITT, BILLY OH, JAY VOSS, MARK WESTON
Lords, Ladies, Servants,
Shepherds, Shepherdesses, Guards:
CHRISTOPHER BURKE, TONY DOBROWOLSKI*,
ZACHARY FORD, JOE FOUST*, ALEXANDRA COODMAN, BRIAN HAMMAN*, MATTIE
HAWKINSON, RONALD KEATON*, JOHN LISTER*, DAVID LIVELY*, AMY
LUDWIGSEN, JOHANNA MCKENZIE MILLER*, ASHLEE PARKER, ROBERT
SCOGIN*, CLAYTON STAMPER, ANDREW TRAVIS
* denotes member of Actors' Equity Association
Understudies never substitute
for listed players unless a specific announcement is made at the
time of the performance: JASEON DENUSZEKfor Florizel, Clown, Time; BRIAN
HAMMAN for
Autolycus; RONALD KEATON
for Antigonus, Camillo; JOHN LISTER for Polixenes, Old Shepherd;
DAVID LIVELY for Leontes; TRACY REPEP for Mopsa, Dorcas; SEAN SINITSKI
for
Archidamus, Cleomenes,
Dion.
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Michael Bogdanov Directs Shakespeare's The Winter's Tale Co-Founder of English Shakespeare Company Returns to Stage Second Production for Chicago Shakespeare Theater Chicago Shakespeare Theater presents
William Shakespeare's play of vengeance, forgiveness and the resilience
of the human spirit-The Winter's Tale-directed by co-founder of the English
Shakespeare
One of the most respected, and at
times most controversial, directors of Shakespeare in English theater,
Michael Bogdanov returns to Chicago Shakespeare to direct the Theater's
third production in its 2002-2003 subscription series. Chicago theater
audiences first came to know Bogdanov's work when his English Shakespeare
Company toured here with Wars of the Roses as part of the International
Theatre Festival in 1987. He returned to Chicago to direct a provocative
production of Timon of Athens for Chicago Shakespeare Theater in 1997,
which garnered Jeff Awards for Best Director and Best Production. Last
spring he staged The Canterbury Tales at The
Breaching all laws of nature, man and oracle, King Leontes suspects his queen of adultery, orders her imprisoned, his boyhood companion slain, and his newborn daughter cast out to the wild. Death hides from Leontes what is closest to his heart, until time can help recover what is lost. In this mythic land the seasons' rhythms find echoes in the journeys of two families, as death and grief give way to life and love. At press time, the cast of The Winter's
Tale includes: John Reeger as
The design team for The Winter's
Tale includes: scenic design by Derek McClane; lighting design by Robert
Wierzell; sound design by Scott Myers; costume design by Claire Lyth; and
property design by Rachel Landen Carlson.
The Winter's Tale begins previews
on March 22, the press opening on March 30, with performances scheduled
to run through June 1, 2003. Preview performances will be March 22, 25,
26, 27, and 28 at 7:30 p.m., with a 3:00p.m. matinee on March 23. The general
performance schedule following the opening night performance is as follows:
Tuesday through Thursday at 7:30 p.m., with a 1:00 p.m. matinee on Wednesday
(No performance scheduled on 4/8, 4/10, 4/22, and 5/6.) Friday at 8:00
p.m., Saturday at 4:00 and 8:30
Ticket prices are $38 for preview
performances, $48 for regular Tuesday through Thursday performances, and
$58 for regular performances Friday through Sunday. For more information
about performances or events at Chicago Shakespeare Theater and to purchase
tickets, call the Chicago Shakespeare Theater Box Office at 312.595.5600
or visit the Theater's website at
The Winter's Tale is sponsored,
in part, by Blue Cross Blue Shield of
American Airlines is the official airline of Chicago Shakespeare Theater.
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Chicago
Shakespeare Theater Website
DIRECTIONS FROM OAK PARK
Coming from Oak Park by car, go
to Lake Shore Drive and
head North from the 290 Expressway.
When you approach
the river you want to be in the
far right lane and exit as soon
as you get over the river.
Navy Pier is straight ahead of you.
Drive to the Pier and go to the
North side of the building for
parking. Do not go into the
first entrance, the Theater is about
two or more entrances from your
first turn. Bring your ticket
with you and have it stamped at
intermission or before you leave
for a 40% reduction in parking.
Three and a half hours comes
to a little more than $10.00.
