“Though I am not naturally honest, I am sometimes so by chance.”
The Lyceum returns to the Shakespearian canon with acclaimed director Max Webster (King Lear with Michael Pennington; Much Ado About Nothing at Shakespeare's Globe) presenting a uniquely Scottish take on this bitter-sweet masterpiece.
When King Leontes suspects his wife Hermione of adultery his jealousy tears the kingdom apart. The queen is banished and believed dead, while their daughter Perdita is abandoned among simple shepherd folk. Passionate tragedy interweaves with pastoral comedy, leading to one of Shakespeare’s most magical and moving denouements.
Perhaps with several more runs, the company will be firing on all cylinders, but as it stands now the Lyceum’s production is a terrific looking production that feels a bit start-and-stop in its dramatic action, making for an effective production that is nevertheless too long.
While the shifts in tone and setting can be off-putting, there is a commendable clarity in the storytelling that is echoed by a series of committed performances. In the end, it still adds up to less than the sum of its parts, however considerable those may be.
Scottish writer James Robertson has translated selected scenes in this ravishingly lit and superbly designed production of Shakespeare’s play.
It is the crumpled gravitas that looms large over John Michie's Leontes, however, that dominates.
The play’s ending and its message of fairy tale hope beyond life’s harsh realities also redeem this overlong production.
In some senses it works very well.
As this winter draws to a close, go and see The Winter’s Tale – it’s a contemporary Scottish treat.
But for a jarring and wholly unnecessary change of tack at the start of Act Two, the Lyceum have a stylish, contemporary Scottish Shakespeare on their hands here with this production, directed by Max Webster.
Even Max Webster's thoughtful direction can't rescue an ill-structured script.
t’s left to the leads to restore emotional integrity to this notoriously fragmented tale.
The Royal Lyceum production is an unusual and certainly memorable reimagining that makes for a thought-provoking evening at the theatre.
Thankfully, this new Royal Lyceum production, directed by Max Webster, knows when to be bold.
The performances are good and Macrae’s music comes into its own in the excellent second half.
By turning weaknesses into strengths and modernising the play for a contemporary Scottish audience, the team elevate The Winter’s Tale into a thoroughly enjoyable winter’s evening.
Two very different Winter's Tales
Max Webster's take on The Winter's Tale comes with an energising vision.
Royal Lyceum, Edinburgh from Friday February 10, 2017, until Saturday March 4, 2017. More info: www.lyceum.org.uk