Cutting down plays to fit the narrow constraints of most fringe slots is always a challenge. However, in the case of Barrow Sixth Form College's adaptation of Winter's Tale, now cut down to about fifty minutes, one wonders why they bothered at all. The cuts render Shakespeare's famously problematic tragicomedy into an all-too-sketchy outline. Theatergoers not previously familiar with the play will have trouble keeping track of what is going on and rather than narrowing in on a particular element or theme in the text, the changes instead lead to a rather meandering and unfocused production. While the initial scenes – in which Leontes foolishly accuses his wife of infidelity – were at least straightforward in terms of delivering the story, as the play progressed and different actors were briefly introduced before appearing again (at times as different characters), it became difficult to keep track of what, precisely, was going on.
The show is visually striking, with the difference between grayscale Sicily and colorful, pastoral Bohemia being particularly well-rendered. There are also a number of directorial decisions (most notably the showing of the passage of time) which work very well onstage. Unfortunately however, the cast largely seem uncertain of their roles, uncomfortable onstage, unsure of how to handle verse and, at worst, inaudible: enough lines were lost that certain plot points remained unclear. Certain performers – in particular the actors playing Autolycus and Polixenes – offered moments of show-stealing charisma, but the overall effect was one of stagnancy - cues left too long, awkward pauses, and tentative acting choices. The cast do put in a solid effort, but with a Fringe so filled with innovative takes on Shakespeare, it's difficult to recommend The Winter's Tale.
