Tag: reviews

The Winter’s Tale reviewed by Mary Alderson.

by Richard Young

(This Review originally appeared on the website Entertain This Thought, and it is reposted with the permission of the reviewer.)

The Winter’s Tale, on stage at the Tom Patterson Theatre at the Stratford Festival, is a fascinating study of paranoia and mental illness which leads to a horrible situation. Then suddenly as the play draws to a pleasant close, all is well – cured, loved, and forgiven. While it is expertly directed and brilliantly performed, it is the abrupt shift in the end that leaves me cold.

Leontes, King of Sicily (Graham Abbey) is hosting his long-time friend Polixenes, the King of Bohemia (André Sills) and asks him to extend his visit. Polixenes declines. But when Queen Hermione (Sara Topham) invites him to stay longer, he agrees.

Immediately Leontes becomes suspicious of the two of them. He accuses his wife of being unfaithful, for no apparent reason. His jealousy and paranoia take control him. Hermione is pregnant, and Leontes decides the baby is not his; it must the child of his friend Polixenes. The King orders his Ambassador, Camillo (Tom Rooney) to get rid of Polixenes, but instead Camillo lets him flee. Then the King puts his wife in prison, where she gives birth to a baby girl. Their son, the darling little prince Mamillius, (played by Philip Myers and George Robinet in alternate performances) dies while his mother is in prison, and she in turn dies of sorrow. Leontes orders the baby be taken away and abandoned.

After intermission, the story fast-forwards 16 years, and Time (Lucy Peacock) appears in the form of an angel with white feathered wings. A lowly shepherd’s adopted daughter, Perdita (Marissa Orjalo) and Florizel (Austin Eckert), son of King Polixenes want to marry. There are concerns that she is not a suitable bride, but Florizel persists. In the meantime, with everyone he loves dead or gone, Leontes realizes the error of his ways. Eventually they figure out that Perdita is the daughter of Hermione and Leontes, making her suitable for Florizel and the wedding is celebrated. A statue of Hermione comes to life, then she forgives Leontes and they renew their relationship.

Director Antoni Cimolino has gathered Stratford’s corps d’elite in the cast, and a large cast at that – enough to fill the long, thrust stage at the Tom Patterson Theatre. Graham Abbey is excellent as the unwell Leontes. His paranoia and mental illness came in subtle waves; he didn’t have to exaggerate it. Sara Topham gives us a lovely Hermione, puzzled by her husband’s accusations. André Sills starts as a very dignified King Polixenes, but then provides some humour as a disguised spy, as does his sidekick in disguise, Tom Rooney as Camillo. Lucy Peacock is an ethereal angel as Time. Tom McCamus creates some fun as a slightly befuddled Old Shepherd, along with Christo Graham as his overly exuberant son. Geraint Wyn Davies has a great clown-like role as the hilarious swindler Autolycus.

The Winter’s Tale is an interesting story; one you don’t study in school or see performed often. This production is designed to take the audience into the depths of the King’s paranoia, but after intermission, lighten the mood. However, if Shakespeare was here, I’d tell him it was just too unbelievable. How can Leontes be forgiven? He jailed his wife and left her to die there, let their adorable young son die, and banished their baby girl to be abandoned in another country. If he is, indeed, suffering from mental illness and he acknowledges that, seeks help, and finds medication, then we can forgive him. We will just have to believe that Shakespeare was ahead of his time, finding a means to improve mental health.

The Winter’s Tale continues in repertory until September 27 at Tom Patterson Theatre, Stratford. Tickets are available at the Stratford Festival by calling 1-800-567-1600 or online at www.stratfordfestival.ca

Photo: André Sills as Polixenes (front-left), Sara Topham as Hermione (front-right) and Graham Abbey as Leontes (far right) with members of the company in The Winter’s Tale, Stratford Festival 2025. Photo by David Hou.

The Winter’s Tale
By William Shakespeare
Directed by Antoni Cimolino
Original Music by Wayne Kelso
Performed by Graham Abbey, Yanna McIntosh, Sara Topham, Austin Eckert, Tom McCamus, Marissa Orjalo, Tom Rooney, André Sills, Geraint Wyn Davies, et al
Tom Patterson Theatre, Stratford
Stratford Festival
May 7 to October 27, 2025
Reviewed by Mary Alderson

For more theatre reviews and news, visit https://www.entertainthisthought.com/

LONDON FRINGE PERFORMER HIGHLIGHTS: MARIA COLONESCU & JENN WEATHERALL

by Richard Young

PERFORMER HIGHLIGHT: MARIA COLONESCU

Maria is an internationally produced, award-winning playwright, director, actor, and everything in between. She holds an MFA in Advanced Theatre Practice from the Royal Central School of Speech and Drama (University of London). Her diverse practice includes training in Butoh and somatic performance and leans into immersive, non-traditional, site-responsive theatre that puts the audience in a position to influence the experience, highlighting personal and social accountability and community building. Since moving to the Region of Waterloo in 2022, Maria has curated, produced, and directed a radio-drama series for Kitchener’s Midtown Radio (2023); co-wrote and directed an immersive, participatory, art-heist theatrical experience for the KW Art Gallery’s annual fundraiser (2024); co-founded the Treading Theatre Festival in Kitchener (2025); and premiered 9 original plays.

Maria directs and performs in her original play, The Companion. She also performs in her play, Everything I Didn’t Get to Say (In a Collection of Petals).

PERFORMER HIGHLIGHT: JENN WEATHERALL.

Jenn is an actor, playwright, artist, muralist and mother. She spent her twenties attending George Brown Theatre School and running away to NYC. In her thirties she made two beautiful babies. And in her forties she recovered from ‘adulting’ and got back to who she is at her core…an artist.

Jenn’s plays have been performed in many festivals including Darkcrop, HamilTen, She Speaks, and Unhinged. This is Jenn’s second experience within a Fringe Festival. Last year No Lilies was performed in the Guelph Fringe and received the award for outstanding performer. She recently participated in a playwrighting workshop with Daniel McIvor and is working on a piece to be performed in the Unhinged Festival of Disturbing Theatre in Waterloo in October.

She wrote No Lilies by the side of the river in St. Jacobs overnight two years ago (with many skunks lingering close by) and is excited to step back into that space again in London.

To purchase tickets to Maria and Jenn’s shows, and get more information about the London Fringe, visit www.palacetheatre.ca/london-fringe