The Winter's Tale

ropeller Theatre Company from Great Britain presents Shakespeare’s plays as Shakespeare would have, with an allmale cast. At this special demonstration, you will have the opportunity to watch the cast members perform selected scenes from The Winter’s Tale and hear them talk about their interpretation of the play and how they approach their roles. Pay close attention to the following discussions about these aspects of their production:

Did you know that The Winter’s Tale features one of Shakespeare’s most famous and unusual stage directions—“Exit, pursued by a bear”?

Each individual director determines whether and how to show the bear chasing Antigonus after he abandons Perdita. During the demonstration, Propeller’s cast will talk about their unique approach. If you were the director, how would you stage the scene? Discuss your ideas with others.

❖ Role doubling, or having one actor play more than one character

❖ Having Mamillius reappear after his death

❖ Using an hourglass in the set

The pickpocket Autolycus arrives and charms and cheats the crowd with his songs. Propeller Theatre Company gives the character a new twist by having the actor wear a costume and a bold attitude resembling that of an aging rock star.

Stephen A. Schwarzman Chairman Michael M. Kaiser President Darrell M. Ayers Vice President, Education

Welcome to Cuesheet, your guide to

The Winter’s Tale

A Watermill Theatre

Directed by Edward Hall A Watermill (UK) production by Propeller Theatre Company With support from the British Council USA

(UK) production by Propeller Theatre Company of selected scenes from The

Cuesheets are funded in part through the support of the Butz Foundation; the Carter and Melissa Cafritz Charitable Trust; Chevy Chase Bank; Citigroup Foundation; the D.C. Commission on the Arts and Humanities; Ms.Nancy J.Davis; Fannie Mae Foundation; the Ella Fitzgerald Charitable Foundation; the Kennedy Center Corporate Fund; The Jacob and Charlotte Lehrman Foundation; the Mackintosh Foundation; Newman’s Own; Publix Supermarkets, Inc.; Dr.Deborah Rose and Dr. Jan A. J. Stolwijk; the President’s Advisory Committee on the Arts; Prince Charitable Trusts; the Hattie M. Strong Foundation; and the U.S. Department of Education.

Winter’s Tale. Cuesheet is published by the Education Department of the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts,Washington, D.C. The hourglass marks topics for discussion or activities you may want do with other

Cuesheet

students, friends,

Editorial and Art Director: Lisa Resnick Writer: Marcia A. Friedman Design: The Kirwan Company, Inc.

Cuesheets are produced by ARTSEDGE, a program of the Kennedy Center Education Department and a member of the MarcoPolo Consortium.

For more information about the performing arts and arts education, visit our Web sites: kennedy-center.org/education artsedge.kennedy-center.org Questions, comments? Write us at cuesheets@artsedge.kennedycenter.org. © 2005 The John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts The U.S. Department of Education supports approximately one-third of the budget for the Kennedy Center Education Department.

The contents of this Cuesheet do not necessarily represent the policy of the U.S. Department of Education, and you should not assume endorsement by the Federal Government.

or family.

Playwright William Shakespeare wrote both tragedies and comedies.

But in a handful of plays like The Winter’s Tale, he rolled them into one, creating a form of drama called romance.

Different from what we see in modern movie romances, a classic romance features tragic conflicts, family disputes, comic situations, and even magical or supernatural happenings. The Winter’s Tale begins with the jealous destruction of a family. But with the passage of time, the last third of the play bursts forth toward spring with song, silliness, young love…and a miracle.

The Propeller Theatre Company will present a demonstration and performance of The Winter’s Tale.

ALL PHOTOS © ALASTAIR MUIR

Main Characters Leontes (pronounced lee-AHN-teez), King of Sicilia Hermione (her-MEYE-i-nee), Queen of Sicilia Mamillius (muh-MIL-ee-uhs), son of Leontes and Hermione Perdita (PER-di-tuh), daughter of Leontes and Hermione Camillo (Kah-MIL-oh), a nobleman Antigonus (aan-TIG-uh-nuhs), a nobleman loyal to Leontes Paulina, Antigonus’s wife and Hermione’s devoted friend Polixenes (puh-LIKS-uh-neez), King of Bohemia Florizell (FLAW-ri-zehl), son of Polixenes Shepherd’s Son (sometimes known as the Clown) Old Shepherd, Perdita’s foster father Autolycus (aw-TAHL-uh-kuhs), a trickster

n Sicilia, King Polixenes of Bohemia prepares to return home after visiting his lifelong friend Leontes, the King of Sicilia. Unable to persuade Polixenes to stay longer, Leontes urges his pregnant wife Queen Hermione to try. When she succeeds, Leontes immediately suspects that she and Polixenes are in love, and he becomes violently jealous.

Learning from the nobleman Camillo that Leontes plans to poison him, Polixenes flees home. Leontes jails Hermione despite her protests of innocence. She gives birth to a daughter, Perdita. Hermione’s friend Paulina takes the baby girl to Leontes in the hope of softening his heart. But, believing that Polixenes is the baby’s father, Leontes angrily orders Paulina’s husband Antigonus to take Perdita away and abandon her.

At the trial, a priest proclaims Hermione’s innocence. At first, Leontes denies it. Then news comes that Mamillius, the royal couple’s son, has died in despair over his mother’s treatment. Hermione collapses and is taken away. Leontes begins to recognize his mistakes, but too late, because Paulina returns and announces Hermione’s death.

Meanwhile, far away in Bohemia, Antigonus abandons Perdita and is killed by a bear. An old shepherd finds the baby and lovingly adopts her.

Sixteen years pass. In the Bohemian countryside, the now-grown shepherdess Perdita is in love with King Polixenes’ son, Prince Florizell. The young lovers hide their relationship from the King, who would not approve. Suspicious, Polixenes disguises himself and spies on them at a sheep shearing, where the trickster Autolycus comically sells songs and attempts to cheat the audience.

Discovering his son’s deception, Polixenes angrily orders punishments for everyone.

The young lovers flee to Sicilia, followed by Polixenes. With Autolycus’s help, the old shepherd and his son follow and reveal how they found Perdita and adopted her. The Court realizes that Perdita is Leontes’ longlost heir. At Paulina’s home, the statue of Hermione is unveiled and miraculously comes to life.

This production of The Winter’s Tale is performed by an all-male theater company. That might seem unusual or innovative to us today, but in fact, Shakespeare wrote his plays for acting companies made up of only male actors. At the time, even though England was ruled by a woman, Queen Elizabeth I, women had few rights and limited job opportunities and were not allowed to perform on stage.

William Shakespeare (1564 -1616) wrote 38 plays and 156 poems during his lifetime. More than 400 years later, Shakespeare’s plays continue to be meaningful to directors and audiences alike thanks to their universal themes like love, guilt, power, jealousy, and healing.

he main themes of The Winter’s Tale are people—their emotions and relationships— and matters of life and death. After the demonstration, discuss the following themes, characters, and situations:

❖ Jealousy—Leontes’ jealousy and what it causes

❖ Fatherhood—Leontes, Polixenes, and the old shepherd and how they interact with their children

❖ Friendship—The bonds between Paulina and Hermione, between Camillo and Polixenes, and between Leontes and Polixenes Leontes lashes out at Hermione. Notice the all-male cast, and watch how the actors perform female roles. What is your reaction to such portrayals?

❖ Death and Rebirth—The deaths of Hermione, Mamillius, Antigonus, and Perdita and the “rebirths” of Perdita and Hermione

Classic romances like The Winter’s Tale are often called tragi-comedies for the way they combine the two types of plays. How do you turn a sad story into a funny one in a single play? Try creating a summary for a five-act play. Make the first three acts tragic and the last two acts comic.

Even as Leontes mourns his wife and son, the spring daffodils on their grave suggest possibilities of hope and new beginnings.

Main Characters Leontes (pronounced lee-AHN-teez), King of Sicilia Hermione (her-MEYE-i-nee), Queen of Sicilia Mamillius (muh-MIL-ee-uhs), son of Leontes and Hermione Perdita (PER-di-tuh), daughter of Leontes and Hermione Camillo (Kah-MIL-oh), a nobleman Antigonus (aan-TIG-uh-nuhs), a nobleman loyal to Leontes Paulina, Antigonus’s wife and Hermione’s devoted friend Polixenes (puh-LIKS-uh-neez), King of Bohemia Florizell (FLAW-ri-zehl), son of Polixenes Shepherd’s Son (sometimes known as the Clown) Old Shepherd, Perdita’s foster father Autolycus (aw-TAHL-uh-kuhs), a trickster

n Sicilia, King Polixenes of Bohemia prepares to return home after visiting his lifelong friend Leontes, the King of Sicilia. Unable to persuade Polixenes to stay longer, Leontes urges his pregnant wife Queen Hermione to try. When she succeeds, Leontes immediately suspects that she and Polixenes are in love, and he becomes violently jealous.

Learning from the nobleman Camillo that Leontes plans to poison him, Polixenes flees home. Leontes jails Hermione despite her protests of innocence. She gives birth to a daughter, Perdita. Hermione’s friend Paulina takes the baby girl to Leontes in the hope of softening his heart. But, believing that Polixenes is the baby’s father, Leontes angrily orders Paulina’s husband Antigonus to take Perdita away and abandon her.

At the trial, a priest proclaims Hermione’s innocence. At first, Leontes denies it. Then news comes that Mamillius, the royal couple’s son, has died in despair over his mother’s treatment. Hermione collapses and is taken away. Leontes begins to recognize his mistakes, but too late, because Paulina returns and announces Hermione’s death.

Meanwhile, far away in Bohemia, Antigonus abandons Perdita and is killed by a bear. An old shepherd finds the baby and lovingly adopts her.

Sixteen years pass. In the Bohemian countryside, the now-grown shepherdess Perdita is in love with King Polixenes’ son, Prince Florizell. The young lovers hide their relationship from the King, who would not approve. Suspicious, Polixenes disguises himself and spies on them at a sheep shearing, where the trickster Autolycus comically sells songs and attempts to cheat the audience.

Discovering his son’s deception, Polixenes angrily orders punishments for everyone.

The young lovers flee to Sicilia, followed by Polixenes. With Autolycus’s help, the old shepherd and his son follow and reveal how they found Perdita and adopted her. The Court realizes that Perdita is Leontes’ longlost heir. At Paulina’s home, the statue of Hermione is unveiled and miraculously comes to life.

This production of The Winter’s Tale is performed by an all-male theater company. That might seem unusual or innovative to us today, but in fact, Shakespeare wrote his plays for acting companies made up of only male actors. At the time, even though England was ruled by a woman, Queen Elizabeth I, women had few rights and limited job opportunities and were not allowed to perform on stage.

William Shakespeare (1564 -1616) wrote 38 plays and 156 poems during his lifetime. More than 400 years later, Shakespeare’s plays continue to be meaningful to directors and audiences alike thanks to their universal themes like love, guilt, power, jealousy, and healing.

he main themes of The Winter’s Tale are people—their emotions and relationships— and matters of life and death. After the demonstration, discuss the following themes, characters, and situations:

❖ Jealousy—Leontes’ jealousy and what it causes

❖ Fatherhood—Leontes, Polixenes, and the old shepherd and how they interact with their children

❖ Friendship—The bonds between Paulina and Hermione, between Camillo and Polixenes, and between Leontes and Polixenes Leontes lashes out at Hermione. Notice the all-male cast, and watch how the actors perform female roles. What is your reaction to such portrayals?

❖ Death and Rebirth—The deaths of Hermione, Mamillius, Antigonus, and Perdita and the “rebirths” of Perdita and Hermione

Classic romances like The Winter’s Tale are often called tragi-comedies for the way they combine the two types of plays. How do you turn a sad story into a funny one in a single play? Try creating a summary for a five-act play. Make the first three acts tragic and the last two acts comic.

Even as Leontes mourns his wife and son, the spring daffodils on their grave suggest possibilities of hope and new beginnings.

ropeller Theatre Company from Great Britain presents Shakespeare’s plays as Shakespeare would have, with an allmale cast. At this special demonstration, you will have the opportunity to watch the cast members perform selected scenes from The Winter’s Tale and hear them talk about their interpretation of the play and how they approach their roles. Pay close attention to the following discussions about these aspects of their production:

Did you know that The Winter’s Tale features one of Shakespeare’s most famous and unusual stage directions—“Exit, pursued by a bear”?

Each individual director determines whether and how to show the bear chasing Antigonus after he abandons Perdita. During the demonstration, Propeller’s cast will talk about their unique approach. If you were the director, how would you stage the scene? Discuss your ideas with others.

❖ Role doubling, or having one actor play more than one character

❖ Having Mamillius reappear after his death

❖ Using an hourglass in the set

The pickpocket Autolycus arrives and charms and cheats the crowd with his songs. Propeller Theatre Company gives the character a new twist by having the actor wear a costume and a bold attitude resembling that of an aging rock star.

Stephen A. Schwarzman Chairman Michael M. Kaiser President Darrell M. Ayers Vice President, Education

Welcome to Cuesheet, your guide to

The Winter’s Tale

A Watermill Theatre

Directed by Edward Hall A Watermill (UK) production by Propeller Theatre Company With support from the British Council USA

(UK) production by Propeller Theatre Company of selected scenes from The

Cuesheets are funded in part through the support of the Butz Foundation; the Carter and Melissa Cafritz Charitable Trust; Chevy Chase Bank; Citigroup Foundation; the D.C. Commission on the Arts and Humanities; Ms.Nancy J.Davis; Fannie Mae Foundation; the Ella Fitzgerald Charitable Foundation; the Kennedy Center Corporate Fund; The Jacob and Charlotte Lehrman Foundation; the Mackintosh Foundation; Newman’s Own; Publix Supermarkets, Inc.; Dr.Deborah Rose and Dr. Jan A. J. Stolwijk; the President’s Advisory Committee on the Arts; Prince Charitable Trusts; the Hattie M. Strong Foundation; and the U.S. Department of Education.

Winter’s Tale. Cuesheet is published by the Education Department of the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts,Washington, D.C. The hourglass marks topics for discussion or activities you may want do with other

Cuesheet

students, friends,

Editorial and Art Director: Lisa Resnick Writer: Marcia A. Friedman Design: The Kirwan Company, Inc.

Cuesheets are produced by ARTSEDGE, a program of the Kennedy Center Education Department and a member of the MarcoPolo Consortium.

For more information about the performing arts and arts education, visit our Web sites: kennedy-center.org/education artsedge.kennedy-center.org Questions, comments? Write us at cuesheets@artsedge.kennedycenter.org. © 2005 The John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts The U.S. Department of Education supports approximately one-third of the budget for the Kennedy Center Education Department.

The contents of this Cuesheet do not necessarily represent the policy of the U.S. Department of Education, and you should not assume endorsement by the Federal Government.

or family.

Playwright William Shakespeare wrote both tragedies and comedies.

But in a handful of plays like The Winter’s Tale, he rolled them into one, creating a form of drama called romance.

Different from what we see in modern movie romances, a classic romance features tragic conflicts, family disputes, comic situations, and even magical or supernatural happenings. The Winter’s Tale begins with the jealous destruction of a family. But with the passage of time, the last third of the play bursts forth toward spring with song, silliness, young love…and a miracle.

The Propeller Theatre Company will present a demonstration and performance of The Winter’s Tale.

ALL PHOTOS © ALASTAIR MUIR