The Winter's Tale

Propeller Shakespeare

William Shakespeare, Edward Hall, Roger Warren, Edward Hall, Roger Warren

• Publisher: Oberon Books
• Year: 2012
• ISBN:
  9781849437547
• Edition: 1
• Topic: Literature
• Subtopic: British Drama
• Index: Literature

The Winter's Tale takes us on an extraordinary journey. King Leontes falls prey to an inexplicable jealousy of his wife Hermione; it causes her (apparent) death and the (actual) death of his young son Mamillius. Sixteen years of repentance, supervised by Paulina, lead to scenes of reunion and reconciliation — but without concealing the cost in human terms. This is a slightly shortened version of the text of The Winter's Tale as printed in the First Folio of Shakespeare's works (1623). The opening sequence, divided between various voices, and the first half of Scene Twelve, draw upon, and re-shape, the more extended versions of the original.

Characters

LEONTES, King of Sicilia

HERMIONE, his Queen

MAMILLIUS, their son

POLIXENES, King of Bohemia

CAMILLO

ANTIGONUS

LORDS OF SICILIA

OFFICER

PAULINA, Antigonus’ wife

CLEOMENES

DION

MARINER

OLD SHEPHERD

YOUNG SHEPHERD, his son

AUTOLYCUS, a rogue

FLORIZEL, Polixenes’ son

PERDITA, Leontes’ daughter MOPSA

Other parts played by members of the company

On stage, a grand piano; a stream of sand cascading from above, representing the passing of time; and above that, a full moon which wanes during HERMIONE’s arrest, and is eclipsed during her trial.

PROLOGUE

	PRINCE MAMILLIUS, wearing pyjamas, enters. He later plays his sister PERDITA, and the personification of Time. In the first five scenes, he is either on stage or watching, increasingly alarmed, from above.
	Music: the Tick-tock of Time: music-box theme.
	The Court enters in half-light, from which voices emerge. MAMILLIUS identifies LEONTES and POLIXENES as they are referred to.
VOICE 1	Sicilia cannot show himself over kind to Bohemia.
VOICE 2	They were trained together in their childhoods,
VOICE 3	And there rooted betwixt them such an affection which cannot choose but branch now.
VOICE 4	There is not in the world either malice or matter to alter it.
VOICE 5	They have an unspeakable comfort in the young Prince Mamillius.
VOICE 6	It is a gentleman of the greatest promise,
VOICE 7	One that makes old hearts fresh.
VOICE 8	It is a gallant child.
VOICE 9	The heavens continue their loves.

SCENE ONE

	Sicilia. The palace. A party: cigars, brandy, evening dress. POLIXENES plays the piano, then all sing.
	Music: Trovommi Amor.
	LEONTES, HERMIONE (heavily pregnant), MAMILLIUS, POLIXENES, and CAMILLO come forward.
POLIXENES	Nine changes of the wat’ry moon hath been The shepherd’s note since we have left our throne Without a burden. Time as long again Would be filled up, my brother, with our thanks, And yet we should for perpetuity Go hence in debt.
LEONTES	Stay your thanks a while,
	And pay them when you part.
POLIXENES	Sir, that’s tomorrow.
	I am questioned by my fears of what may chance Or breed upon our absence. Besides, I have stayed To tire your royalty.
LEONTES	We are tougher, brother,
	Than you can put us to’t.
POLIXENES	No longer stay.
LEONTES	One sev’nnight longer.
POLIXENES	Very sooth, tomorrow.
LEONTES	We’ll part the time between’s, then; and in that I’ll no gainsaying.
POLIXENES	Press me not, beseech you, so.
	There is no tongue that moves, none, none i’th’ world So soon as yours could win me. So it should now, Were there necessity in your request, although ’Twere needful I denied it. My affairs Do even drag me homeward; which to hinder Were, in your love, a whip to me; my stay To you a charge and trouble. To save both, Farewell, our brother.
LEONTES	Tongue-tied, our queen? Speak you.
HERMIONE	I had thought, sir, to have held my peace until You had drawn oaths from him not to stay. You, sir, Charge him too coldly. Tell him you are sure All in Bohemia’s well.
LEONTES	Well said, Hermione!
HERMIONE	(To POLIXENES.) Yet of your royal presence I’ll adventure The borrow of a week. When at Bohemia You take my lord, I’ll give him my commission To let him there a month behind the gest Prefixed for’s parting. – Yet good deed, Leontes, I love thee not a jar o’th’ clock behind What lady she her lord. – You’ll stay?
POLIXENES	No, madam.
HERMIONE	Nay, but you will?
POLIXENES	I may not, verily.
HERMIONE	Verily?
	You put me off with limber vows. But I, Though you would seek t’unsphere the stars with oaths, Should yet say ‘Sir, no going’. Verily You shall not go. A lady’s verily’s As po...