Theatre / The Winter’s Tale by William Shakespeare, directed by Heidi Silberman, at The Mill Theatre until August 15. Reviewed by GRACE CASSIDY

Jealousy is a dangerous beast, according to the bard. Letting it consume you could lead to the death of a wife, the disappearance of a child and the loss of a well-meaning friend, chased off stage by a bear.

It’s a cold week in the bush capital, so it’s fitting that Lexi Sekuless Productions has opted to treat Canberra theatre-goers to a play named for the chilliest season, Shakespeare’s The Winter’s Tale.

For The Mill Theatre’s first youth production, director Heidi Silberman is serving up a streamlined version of one of Shakespeare’s lesser-known works, boasting a tight 80-minute runtime and a talented cast of eight performers.

If you’re not familiar with The Winter’s Tale, it has all the hallmarks of a traditional fable. Set in Sicily and Bohemia, many centuries ago, the play begins when King Leontes (Max Wilson), driven mad by jealousy and paranoia, mistakenly accuses his wife Hermione (Aleksis Andreitchenko) of infidelity. The tale that follows is both tragic and whimsical, containing a runaway prince, a long-lost princess, a flock of curious sheep, and a statue that might yet undo a terrible wrong.

With superb set design – a simple space of stone walls, heraldry and flickering torches – audiences are seamlessly transported to a land of castles, dungeons and (maybe) magic. Dressed like a character from a George R. R. Martin novel, Max Wilson delivers a riveting performance as Leontes, the deranged tyrant.

His wild gaze and trembling fury convey a psyche so fragile that it appears to be on the verge of shaking apart. Aleksis Andreitchenko, also decked out in stunning medieval finery, does a marvellous job creating two distinct characters – her Hermione is grounded by a cold, grim fury, while her Perdita sparkles, young and full of hope. At the same time, Tabby Silberman is a standout as Paulina, the only character in the story to possess a modicum of common sense.

The production’s more dramatic performances are off-set by the rest of the cast’s exquisite comedic chops. Joanna Tollis, as both Camillo and Officer, has no business being as hilarious as she is, and Jarrah Palethorpe as Polixenes effortlessly pulls off one of the funniest moments in the play. Meanwhile, Jennifer Noveski, Nick Parr and Dakota Paull juggle a jaunty cast of characters that flesh out the world of the story.

While The Winter’s Tale is less thematically complex than Shakespeare’s more popular works, and splitting fifteen characters between eight actors gets confusing at times, the production is undeniably entertaining. Carried by strong performances and a bucketload of dramatic tension, this 80-minute play has all the ingredients of a delightful evening: scandal, intrigue, a lost princess, and perhaps most important of all, puppets.

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