The Winter's Tale, theatre review: Mostly a struggle

What a hard-work play The Winter’s Tale is, with its two fractiously different halves. The first, in which King Leontes of Sicily (John Light) goes from nought to 60 on the jealousy scale in under five minutes, is tough to steer.

The second, set in a Bohemia full of frolicking locals, tends to the self-consciously zany. Too much of all of this needs to be sat through with a resigned sigh.

Director Michael Longhurst manages no better or worse than most in navigating this all-but impossible course. At least there are none of the overblown histrionics of Kenneth Branagh’s recent performance in this drama; Light, by contrast, shows a buttoned-up rage that makes him an almost clinical observer of his own jealousy at his wife Hermione’s (wry and regal Rachael Stirling) perceived infidelity. Over in Bohemia, it’s still mighty hard-going: James Garnon squeezes the grandstanding role of musical trickster Autolycus until the pips squeak.

The ending, mercifully, retains its perennially moving message of hope and redemption. It’s the three hours before that are the struggle.

In rep until April 22, Sam Wanamaker Playhouse (020 7401 9919, shakespearesglobe.com)

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