The Winter’s Tale by William Shakespeare. Poltimore House, Devon to 27 July 2024 and touring.

4✩✩✩✩. Review: Cormac Richards.

“A delightful production.”

Within the delightful grounds of the, sadly, derelict and fire ravaged, Poltimore House, near Exeter Devon, the scene is set on a beautiful summer’s evening (kicked off with a very short shower just before curtain up), for a production of one of Shakespeare’s lesser known plays.

Locally based Sun and Moon Theatre have been touring their productions for some years now and it is refreshing to see a company tackle ‘The Winter’s Tale’ – so uncommonly performed but with great appeal. It is very much a play of two halves; the story of King Leontes’ self-induced jealousy which leads him to irrational words and actions, virtually destroying his family as a result; and the pastoral romance with laughter and music which eventually brings the strands of the story together.

With a cast of just eight actors, the Company have created a lucid and carefully edited version of the play; so important when the original is far from familiar to most audiences. Set in 2008 and 2024, nothing jars, messages from mobile phones and the occasional modern day deviation from the script work perfectly well; keeping Shakespeare fresh and vivid is prone to going too far; not so here. Without the trappings of set (though the audience watch the action with a delightful back drop of an oak tree encircled with hydrangea and crocosmia), enhanced lighting and sound, the simplicity of the production allows the play to do the talking; simple and effective costumes offer enough for the actors as they flip from one character to another which largely works well. The Company have really thought about the audience experience.

Musical accompaniment is offered throughout by the performers with the use of the Coventry Carol particularly effective; likewise where sound effects are required, these are vocalised by the cast – they do a good line in baaing sheep!

Richard Knox offers a wonderfully intense Leontes whose anger and frustration is palpable in contrast his wise Old Shepherd is very funny and he and David Johnson, as the Young Shepherd create a perfect double act. Johnson also fronts a number of the songs which he does beautifully. Sally Naylor impresses mightily with a strong and emotional Hermione and is matched by the no-nonsense and forceful Paulina of Melissa Niamh Barrett. Emerson Pike has huge fun as Polixenes, Mariner and the wide-boy, petty thief of Autolycus – there is a great comic skill here. Eleanor Niblett has great facial expressions as faithful Camillo, Olivia Thomas is particularly fine as Florizel and Beatrice Savill switches from young Mamillius to Perdita with ease. The ensemble work extremely effectively together, the lines spoken with clarity and understanding and, despite the challenges of being outdoors, the vocals are, in the main, strong enough to be heard by all.

The play is largely famous for the stage direction, “Exit, pursued by a bear” – with clever puppetry, this is performed with great good humour, and thoroughly engaged the audience, not least a hitherto docile dog, whose owner needed to offer some calming techniques!

This is a delightful production; dramatic, comic and, by the end, extremely touching. It is offered in an accessible and clear production for which Sun and Moon Theatre should be proud. I heartily recommend it.

Cast

Melissa Niamh Barrett – Paulina, Time, Mopsa and Third Superfan

David Johnson – Antigonus, Young Shepherd and Messenger

Richard know – Leontes and Old Shepherd

Sally Naylor – Hermione, Dorcas, Messanger and Second Superfan.

Eleanor Niblett – Camillo, Emilia, Cleomenes and First Superfan

Emerson Pike – Polixenes, Lord, Mariner, Autolycus

Beatrice Savill – Mamillius, Perdita and Officer

Olivia Thomas – Archidamus, Amelia and Florizel

Photography – Emily Appleton and Matt Austin

Puppet maker – Philip Kingsland John