The Winter's Tale

It's been awhile since I last caught a Shakespeare play; some 13 years back I reckon? Ok, so it's not been awhile but AGES! So when everyone started raving about The Bridge's Project's "The Winter Tales", since I could get 1-for-1 tickets through a friendm since the play consisted of a formidable cast, since I had two colleagues who were going, I decided to attend it at the very last minute.

Regret, I did not. Except for the fact of having to listen to the cast attentively all the time because Shakespearean language can be quite hard to grapple especially when they start mumbling. Rebbecca Hall's (one might remember her from The Prestige and Vicky Cristina Barcelona) voice projection wasn't that clear and I remember having to really peel my ears whenever she spoke.

Simon Russell Beale, who was the lead and played King of Bohemia, I reckon, did the best because his role was so emotionally demanding. And of course, Ethan Hawke was fantastic at playing the rogue, something we won't be able to catch on the silver screen.

The act which almost moved me to tears was when there was an outburst of emotions from Rebbecca as she proclaimed her innocence at the trial. I think she did a good job at expressing her angst and helplessness. I remember thinking: "You bastard! She's innocent!"

I loved the lighting they used and the backdrops. Even the slight music and sound effects were executed tastefully, which gave the play this aura which perhaps only Sam Mendes could give.

Shakespeare somehow ended the play quite haphazardly but Sam gave it a powerful ending just before the lights dimmed - a lingering feeling of not being able to forgive and yearning to be forgiven - something visually powerful which perhaps the script wasn't able to portray.

I'm now looking forward to my next play - The Importance of Being Earnest.

I love my colleagues.