Shakespeare veteran Lynn Nichols stages 'The Winter's Tale' Jan. 27-31
CU-Boulder instructor Lynn Nichols, former general manager of the Colorado Shakespeare Festival, is set to direct an on-campus production of The Winters Tale, Jan. 27-31, at CU-Boulders Loft Theatre. The all-student cast brings William Shakespeares timeless tragicomedy to life with vintage costumes and interactive staging.
In this innovative production, mismatched chairs and lights hang from the ceiling of CU-Boulders black box theater, and the set is a minimal arrangement of flea-market props. Nichols says the organized chaos is meant to channel the mental instability of the plays main character, King Leontes.
We wanted to create this fragmented environment out of found objects that resonates with the inside of Leontess mind, said Nichols. The play is so much about the kings sense of self coming apart and deteriorating, followed by the realization of what hes done, followed by healing and coming back together.
The Shakespeare veteran characterized his production as a loose interpretation. During shows, the cast will casually move among the audience, often changing costumes onstage and performing within inches of seated patrons.
Were doing a version of whats called immersive theater, he said. For years and years I wanted to do a Shakespeare play in the Loft Theatre so I could get really creative like this. And for about six years now, Ive wanted to do The Winters Tale here.
The Winters Tale tells the story of a Sicilian king who condemns his wife and disowns his newborn child in a fit of irrational jealousy, only to realize the enormity of his mistake years later. Its a timeless story of sadness and regret, tinged with moments of lighthearted humor.
With this play, some say Shakespeare invented the concept of a tragicomedy, said Nichols says. The first part takes place in the royal court and is quite tragic, and by contrast the second part is outside at a sheep-shearing festival and is much more comic.
One thing that sets this play apart from Shakespeares other work, Nichols explains, is that 16 years elapses between two acts. Its enough time for Leontes, the Sicilian king, to realize the grave error he made in condemning his queen and disowning his daughter.
They say time heals all wounds, he said. What Shakespeare suggests in this play is, things may not turn out the way you want, but even life-changing problems do tend to resolve over time.
Showtimes:
In this innovative production, mismatched chairs and lights hang from the ceiling of CU-Boulders black box theater, and the set is a minimal arrangement of flea-market props. Nichols says the organized chaos is meant to channel the mental instability of the plays main character, King Leontes.
We wanted to create this fragmented environment out of found objects that resonates with the inside of Leontess mind, said Nichols. The play is so much about the kings sense of self coming apart and deteriorating, followed by the realization of what hes done, followed by healing and coming back together.
The Shakespeare veteran characterized his production as a loose interpretation. During shows, the cast will casually move among the audience, often changing costumes onstage and performing within inches of seated patrons.
Were doing a version of whats called immersive theater, he said. For years and years I wanted to do a Shakespeare play in the Loft Theatre so I could get really creative like this. And for about six years now, Ive wanted to do The Winters Tale here.
The Winters Tale tells the story of a Sicilian king who condemns his wife and disowns his newborn child in a fit of irrational jealousy, only to realize the enormity of his mistake years later. Its a timeless story of sadness and regret, tinged with moments of lighthearted humor.
With this play, some say Shakespeare invented the concept of a tragicomedy, said Nichols says. The first part takes place in the royal court and is quite tragic, and by contrast the second part is outside at a sheep-shearing festival and is much more comic.
One thing that sets this play apart from Shakespeares other work, Nichols explains, is that 16 years elapses between two acts. Its enough time for Leontes, the Sicilian king, to realize the grave error he made in condemning his queen and disowning his daughter.
They say time heals all wounds, he said. What Shakespeare suggests in this play is, things may not turn out the way you want, but even life-changing problems do tend to resolve over time.
Showtimes:
- Wednesday, Jan. 27, at 7:30 p.m.
- Thursday, Jan. 28, at 7:30 p.m.
- Friday, Jan. 29, at 7:30 p.m.
- Saturday, Jan. 30, at 2 p.m. and 7:30 p.m.
- Sunday, Jan. 31, at 2 pm.
Tickets for The Winters Tale are $14 with discounts available. To purchase tickets, visit the CU Presents box office in person (972 Broadway), call 303-492-8008 during business hours, or visit the .
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