For the last play of this year’s OSF adventure, for the second time this summer, I saw a production of The Winter’s Tale. [Trailer] This was another excellent show making this week a solid seven out of seven wonderful plays. This was a unique staging of the play as it was staged from an Asian American perspective. The first part of the play (which takes place in Sicilia) was all set in Han dynasty China in muted monotone colors, and the Bohemia part of the play was bright colored set somewhat in the new world. While the Sicilia part was beautiful and visually striking, I found the Shakespearean language more disconsonant with the visual and actors than I usually do; but it wasn’t so much it was a bad thing. The stage setting was pretty much the basic Elizabethan stage, with some set elements pushed in and out of the center. The return of the wronged Queen at the end was particularly visually stunning, and very moving.
I’m sorry to see this week of theater end. The weather has been wonderfully mild in the evenings. I don’t know if it’s because I’m a few weeks earlier than in past years, or if I just lucked out. It’s been a nice relaxing break that’s going to be hard to leave behind.
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