Review: THE WINTER'S TALE, Shakespeare's Globe

In this latest production of The Winter's Tale at Shakespeare's Globe, director Blanche McIntyre takes on the tricky task of guiding the audience from tragedy and despair to comedy and finally a classic fairy tale ending.

One of Shakespeare's later (and problem) plays, The Winter's Tale is widely recognisable as a play of two distinct halves. The first takes place in Sicilia, where King Leontes (Will Keen) has become so convinced that his wife Hermione (Priyanga Burford) is being unfaithful to him that, overcome by jealousy and suspicion, he tears his family apart.

Hermione is arrested, along with their son, and when she gives birth to a daughter, the King declares her a bastard and demands she be sent away. The second act, in contrast, moves to the blossoming plains of Bohemia, where life is much more laidback.

The opening of The Winter's Tale is hard-going, but Keen's portrayal of a logical man's rapid descent into a jealous monster enraptures the audience with his haunting speeches, as he turns against his best friend Polixenes (Oliver Ryan) and wife, leaving himself alienated and alone.

The switch to Bohemia is like a breath of fresh air. The actors don modern-day clothing and there's an air of lightheartedness as we watch the King's lost daughter Perdita (Norah Lopez-Holden) with her adopted shepherd family (Jordan Metcalfe and Annette Badland). Metcalfe and Badland garner some of the biggest laughs of the evening and deservedly so, as the pair manage to find a perfect balance in their portrayal.

Without a doubt, however, the shining star is Sirine Saba as Paulina, who viciously condemns the King and disgraces the courtiers who allow his madness to continue uninterrupted.

When we fast-forward 16 years and return to Sicilia, she perfectly manages the Hermione statue scene, even if some moments, which should be magical and mesmerising, are made into moments of comedy by other characters, making the audience laugh and spoiling the mystique.

However, overall McIntyre has produced a solid production of a tricky play, with strong, witty and fierce female leads.

The Winter's Tale at Shakespeare's Globe until 14 October

Photo credit: Marc Brenner

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