Shakespeare NW serves up a warm 'Winter's Tale'

If it is true for us commoners, that we are our own worst enemy, how multiplied it is for people in power, kings most of all.

Shakespeare's Lear and Macbeth and Prince Hamlet, among his many royal figures, are the most well-known. This summer Leontes, king of Sicilia; takes the stage in Shakespeare Northwest's production of "The Winter's Tale." By turns tragic, comedic and romantic, the bitter cold results of Leontes (Derek Dong) jealously requires a banishment and 16 years passing to blossom into spring.

This made-up fairy tale needs explaining. It starts with best friend Polixenes, king of Bohemia, agreeing to continue his nine-month visit in Sicilia at the behest of Queen Hermione, after he told Leontes he had to leave.

The very pregnant Hermione (a gay and sultry Maia Newell-Large) sweet talks Polixenes into staying. Alas, Leontes, often in anguished asides and soliloquies, increasingly upset and brooding about the stage, creates a fantasy of an affair, that the baby is actually Polixenes'.

Leontes says "what's unreal thou mayst co-join with / something; I find it, / And that to the infection of my brains / And hardening of my brows." In his delusion he hardens his heart against his wife and childhood friend.

His solution? Have his chief-of-staff, Camilla (Seren Sehota) poison Polixenes. She tells him "There is a sickness / Which puts some of us in distemper, but / I cannot name the disease." Instead of doing the deed, she allies herself with Polixenes and flees with him to Bohemia.

Leontes brings his own house down, condemning Hermione to death and banishing the newly born Florizell to an island, tasking courtier Antigonus (John Metcalf). Characters start to abound: an old Shepherd (Michael Wallace) and his Shepherd Son (John Roberson). Watch closely as each character casually, with nuance, brings humor to their delivery with a hand motion, a gesture, a turn of the head. The drama turns to comedy and 16 years speed by, the two bringing up the babe as Perdita (Zoe Knife).

Shakespeare Northwest stalwart Carolyn Travis-Hatch is in her element as the roguish peddler Autolycus. She tricks the Son picking his wallet out of his pocket. Later she will peddle ballads, enriching herself with every exchange.

Meanwhile in Bohemia, Polixenes' daughter, Florizell (Arabella Rose) has wandered to the island. Of course she falls in love with Perdita. But when Polixenes and Camilla find the two youthful lovers, the dad is incensed that his daughter has mingled with a shepherd's child.

The two lovers escape to Sicilia. Paulina (Jaime Mastromonica), loyal to Queen Hermione, has been hiding her the whole time. She unveils a statue of Hermione to Leontes, who has repented. Amazed at its likeness, he says, "does not the stone rebuke me / For being more stone than it? O royal piece, / There's magic in thy majesty."

And comedy turns to romance. Hermione and Leontes are reunited. Daughter Perdita joins her parents and is betrothed to Florizell.

Director John Metcalf gives most cast members the opportunity their moments to shine, bringing out their comedic talents. The stage is almost bare throughout. The costuming is mid-to-late 20h century: suitcoats and ties for the kings, the women garbed in long dresses.

"The Winter's Tale" is playing in repertoire with "The Two Gentlemen of Verona" Thursday-Sunday. Tickets and times at shakesnw.org/.