*Dee Dee Batteast, Nate Burger, Laura Rook, David Daniel, and Josh Krause*

American Players Theatre Presents A WINTER’S TALE Review - Two Different Worlds Come Together Beautifully

TLDR: American Players Theatre’s production of A Winter’s Tale shows us two different worlds as we travel between formal Sicilia and fun-loving Bohemia, both in design and performances from the cast. The show is filled with original music and dance numbers along with stellar performances from all the ensemble members.

*Josh Krause, Nate Burger, David Daniel, and Rasell Holt*

Cold And Icy Meets Warm and Sunny

In every aspect of this production of A Winter’s Tale we’re met with two opposing motifs. In Sicilia, we’re met with the chilly hues of blues, silvers, and whites. The furniture is covered in blue velvet. White fur rugs spread out along the floors. All the citizens dressed in muted, neutral colors.

We’re taken across the sea and leave the formal Sicilia. A farmer and his son come bumbling and barreling out into the woods and coo at the tiny baby girl they’ve found. The rest of the Bohemians join them and the stage transforms into the reds, oranges, and yellows of late summer. Each citizen wearing bright, colorful, mismatched clothing

Strings of incandescent bulbs cast a warm glow over the bushels of lamb’s wool at this shearing party. Skeins and skeins of yarn are draped across the stage, stretching from one end to the other. Flowers sprout from every corner alongside sun dried grass. The second act is filled with many songs, dances, and lovers.

As we travel back to Sicilia from Bohemia, the world changes once again. This time, Sicilia has become warm and peaceful. We’re in the garden outside with wrought iron benches to sit and contemplate surrounded by the warm summer grass. It’s no longer the cold and unfeeling world we were in before. The warm summer air and crickets chirping around the Hill Theatre makes us feel like we’re in the garden right alongside Leontes.

The Ensemble Comes Alive

After seeing a different production of A Winter’s Tale earlier this year here in Chicago (which you can read about here if you like) the biggest difference I noticed was how much American Player’s production feels like an ensemble show. Each time a character takes center stage to talk sense into Leontes in Sicilia or sing a merry ballad in Bohemia, our focus is solely on them. We see these fully formed characters as the lords and ladies of the court in their mannerisms and delivery as well as the fun loving and heartfelt community of Bohemians.

Dee Dee Batteast as Paulina steps into the center as Leontes stands at the top of the stage, his lords positioned around them in a circle. Each has taken a glimpse at the new baby that is undoubtedly his, but cannot convince Leontes to see reason. Batteast passionately pleads to Leontes that he is making a mistake and as she fires the line, “It is a heretic that makes the fire, not she which burns in’t,” the entire audience claps in support as we need someone to start speaking sense.

As more and more proof is brought before the king, Queen Hermione, played by Laura Rook, stands before him, barefoot, hair in knots, wearing nothing more than a night gown. She has been through an ordeal, but Rook still finds the strength to fire back at Leontes as she speaks to her character as a royal and mother.

When you pair David Daniel and Josh Krause together, you get comedy gold. From the very start when they enter as the farmer father and son, they have us laughing at their antics. Add in Marcus Truschinski as Autolycus the vagabond and the three fall into peak slapstick comedy as Truschinski tries to outwit them at every turn but finds his plans unwittingly foiled.

The After Party Thoughts

The first showing of A Winter’s Tale I attended was rained out unfortunately, and I could have written a review based on how much of the play we were able to make it through. But where is the fun in that?? Luckily I was able to head back up to finish out the show a week later (no rainouts!). So if me taking the extra journey back up to Spring Green says anything, I’d say this production of A Winter’s Tale is very well worth it!

The cast delivers on the drama in the first act as Nate Burger as Leontes slowly gives in to his anxieties driving him mad. And as we travel to Bohemia, the full ensemble delivers on the comedy and fun with lots of original music and full cast dance numbers.

For those that are looking for a well done production of A Winter’s Tale or those that like Shakespeare and plays that cover both tragedy and comedy, this show would be a good fit for you.

HIGHLY RECOMMENDED