One From The Vault

A rarely performed gem in Shakespeare's oeuvre, The Winter's Tale is, at its heart, a tale of love and the things we do to protect our nearest and dearest. In classic Shakespearean style, the path to resolution does not run smoothly, and even though it begins with a King consumed by jealousy, moments of joy and comedy make it one of the Bard's most intriguing later plays. Join the American Players Theatre as they bring the bittersweet tale to you, directed by Shana Cooper.

What Is The Story?

The Winter's Tale follows the fortunes of King Leontes of Sicilia and his childhood friend, the Bohemian king Polixenes. Leontes is possessed by a sudden and paranoid feeling that Polixenes has seduced his wife Hermione, and suspects that her unborn baby isn't his. Consumed by fury, he orders his manservant Camillo to poison Polixenes; instead, he warns the target, and the two flee. Meanwhile, Hermione is thrown into prison under her husband's suspicion of treason.

When the newborn girl finally arrives, Leontes is still convinced that he isn't her father and orders his daughter to be abandoned to the Fates. Sixteen long years pass and the baby Perdita is raised by a kindly shepherd. Leontes learns from the Delphi Oracle that his wife was innocent and that the baby was his; he mourns his rash actions and tries to make amends for his evil. However, in a twist of fate, he is reunited with his long-lost daughter and finally receives the redemption he has been looking for.