American Players Theatre: The Winter's Tale

Allie Bugajski, Allie and the After Party

Cold And Icy Meets Warm and Sunny

In every aspect of this production of A Winter’s Tale we’re met with two opposing motifs. In Sicilia, we’re met with the chilly hues of blues, silvers, and whites. The furniture is covered in blue velvet. White fur rugs spread out along the floors. All the citizens dressed in muted, neutral colors.

We’re taken across the sea and leave the formal Sicilia. A farmer and his son come bumbling and barreling out into the woods and coo at the tiny baby girl they’ve found. The rest of the Bohemians join them and the stage transforms into the reds, oranges, and yellows of late summer. Each citizen wearing bright, colorful, mismatched clothing

Strings of incandescent bulbs cast a warm glow over the bushels of lamb’s wool at this shearing party. Skeins and skeins of yarn are draped across the stage, stretching from one end to the other. Flowers sprout from every corner alongside sun dried grass. The second act is filled with many songs, dances, and lovers.

As we travel back to Sicilia from Bohemia, the world changes once again. This time, Sicilia has become warm and peaceful. We’re in the garden outside with wrought iron benches to sit and contemplate surrounded by the warm summer grass. It’s no longer the cold and unfeeling world we were in before. The warm summer air and crickets chirping around the Hill Theatre makes us feel like we’re in the garden right alongside Leontes.

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