A very spare and elegant interpretation of the play. Ben Carlson was great as Leontes - a difficult role to play since the jealousy is so irrational and appears so suddenly. Dan Chameroy was very good as his counterpart and friend Polixenes. Yann McIntosh was also excellent as Hermione, as was Cara Ricketts as Perdita. But the two comedians stole the show - Tom Rooney as Autolycus the thief and Mike Shara as Young Shepherd. Rooney even engaged the audience using his beggar bowl to get more laughs.
Sean McKenna as Paulina was of course outstanding. It is amazing to think that the last time we saw this play, Patricia Hamilton played this part for laughs, by lisping. McKenna's interpretation was very different - very serious, very much the advocate. I think it fits the play better.
I do not have much to add on this one; it was very well done, but I didn't feel very involved for some reason.
ReplyDeleteI do not know how Leontes survived sixteen years of McKenna's Paulina, I think I would have killed her or myself! She was very good.
Tom Rooney is a major gain for Stratford and has a great range.
Mike Shara was funny, but I think he is rather wasted this year. I look forward to seeing him in better roles in the future, at Stratford or elsewhere.