A 'Tale' of Two Halves

The Good Review of The Winter's Tale was only lukewarm, giving it three stars and struggling with the plays contrast in styles. John Dougall, Karl Davies, Vince Leigh, Tony Bell and Richard Dempsey all stood out for their performances in a production that was "richly cast with some ingenious moments."

WhatsOnStage also gives it three stars, heaping praise on the darker tones of Sicilia where "the use of minimal props and scenery is superb, while the sound design verges on genius" and shows "superb" acting from Vince Leigh and Robert Hands, pointing to how the latter "ensures that Leontes' all-consuming jealousy never descends into psychopathic rage." Bohemia fares less well, despite a "superb comic turn" from Karl Davies.

Inquire, too, had trouble reconciling the two tones, also preferring Sicilia and feeling the comedy was pushed too hard in Bohemia at times. The acting, though, was "solid, with the two king’s [Robert Hands and Nicholas Asbury] in particular delivering their emotionally charged lines with calculated finesse."

Marlborough People focuses its quick blurb on the plot, but is more free with praise calling it an "exciting" production where "acting is superb and the cast make Shakespeare look effortless."

Whats on the Fringe gave the production four stars, summarizing the plot and calling attention to specific moments like the sheep and Sicilia's soundscape.. While there was some difficulty with the language, Vince Leigh and Nicholas Asbury were commended for marrying performance and speech and Karl Davies, John Dougall and Tony Bell were praised for their comedic performances.  [e]