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Performed by the LSC at The Lawn, Lincoln
25th - 30th November 1996
Director: Simon Clark
Assistant Director: Aggi Gunstone
Music: Laurie Bennett and Damo Waters
Cast
Leontes, King of Sicilia: John Armitage
Hermione, his wife: Karen Crow
Mamillius, his son: Oliver Clark
Perdita, his daughter: Jo Clark
Perdita, as a baby: Barnaby Peplow, Eleanor Gofney,
Aaron Brown and Susannah Bower-Brown
Camillo, lord at the court of Leontes: Simon Clark
Antigonus, lord at the court of Leontes: Dave
Clayton
Paulina, wife of Antigonus: Liz Lucas
Emilia, a lady attending on Hermione: Aggi Gunstone
Gaoler: Richard Jones
Lord: Rob Smith
Polixenes, King of Bohemia: Neil Perkins
Florizel, his son: Paul Corbett
Autolycus, a rogue: Dave Clayton
Old Shepherd, reputed father of Perdita: Rob Smith
Clown, his son: Richard Jones
Mopsa and Docas, shepherdesses: Jo Smith and Aggi
Gunstone
Priestesses/Shepherdesses: Helen Tholen, Holly
Walker, Shona Judge and Helen Millington
Time, as chorus: Oliver Clark
Leontes believes his wife, Hermione has been unfaithful
to him with his friend Polixenes. His mad jealousy causes Polixenes
to flee and Hermione to 'die' shortly after the death of their son,
Mamillius and the birth of a daughter. Leontes orders that the baby
princess, Perdita, be abandoned to the mercy of the gods. Too late,
he learns of his mistake, being told by the oracle of Apollo, whose
message ends: "The King shall live without an heir, if that
which lost be not found." Sixteen years pass...
"The Winter's Tale is a fairy tale for
our time. Themes such as the corrupting power of hate and the
redemptive power of love are especially relevant as the millenium
approaches a world upset by uncertainties, wars and ideological
collisions. Its is a play of hope. Shakespeare forcefully tells
us of his belief in the ultimate good of the human spirit. Optimism
is the enduring legacy of this play, arguably Shakespeare's last,
and he clearly felt the need to strongly communicate a message
of hope for and belief in the human race."
Simon Clark, Director and 'Camillo'.
"The First time I worked with the LSC was
in 'The Winter's Tale", of which I don't remember much except
the late nights at The Joiner's Arms and the amazing 'Techno Bear'
sequence in which Simon Clark came on in a suit of recycled metals
to make the most of Shakespeare's most famous stage direction."
Laurie Bennett, a humble minstrel.
"I remember the penultimate performance
vividly as it is the only occasion when a member of the company
has been unable to perform. Unfortunately, Jo Clark (Perdita),
developed a 'flu like illness. She struggled courageously to The
Lawn, dosed up with Lemsip and so many Paracetamols, she could
barely stand. As Perdita does not appear until after the interval,
I spent the entire first half wondering what I was going to do.
My options were basically 1) dress up and play Perdita in drag,
2) search the audience for a suitable stand in, 3) get one of
the cast to do the part. Just as I was beginning ot chew the carpet
with worry, Karen Crow (Hermione) walked past me and I realised
that although she was playing Jo's mother, the characters were
not on stage together until the very end of the play. Karen valiantly
stepped in into Jo's place and played mother and daughter that
night, while Jo spent the entire play lying on a settee backstage
hallucinating. The audience were terrific that night, as were
the rest of the cast, and it made me realise how lucky I was to
be part of the LSC."
Simon Clark, Director and 'Camillo'.
"a production of such originality... entertainment
of great merit"
HW, Newark Advertiser, November 1996
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