Reader Reviews
The Winter's Tale (Royal Shakespeare Theatre, Stratford-Upon-Avon)
Back to Show Details| Score | Comment | Date |
 | Saw this in Edinburgh and enjoyed it thoroughly - occasionally really had to strain the old ears to catch the lines and didn't like the lovers shouting their affection at one another. Loved Pearce-Quigley's performance. Glad to have seen it - Isobel Sheppard | 07 Apr 13 |
| It just didn't do anything for me. I found Perdita tiresomely strident, the tower became tedious and I wasn't able to engage with the characters. Very disappointing. - Vale Benson | 05 Apr 13 |
| Have to agree that this production (now on UK tour)is a poor showing from the RSC. As have been the previous three shows I have seen by the company! The speaking and expressing of meaning in the text was very poor in all four productions, which indeed is unforgivable for the RSC! I love this play, but this production had no power and only now and then really kept my attention. Time did not go quickly for me during this performance. Not sure I will rush to see another RSC production, many other companies are doing much better and more exciting work at the moment! - RJS | 04 Apr 13 |
| I'm sorry, but I don't understand why everybody is criticising this production. I thought it was thoroughly entertaining and more accessible than most productions I have seen. I'm not a great fan of flashy sets, and the tower was a bit 'over the top' for me, but I thought the overall effect was very satisfying. The star for me was the young prince who I thought was terrific. - James Davey | 17 Feb 13 |
| I'm sorry, but I don't understand why everybody is criticising this production. I thought it was thoroughly entertaining and more accessible than most productions I have seen. I'm not a great fan of flashy sets, and the tower was a bit 'over the top' for me, but I thought the overall effect was very satisfying. The star for me was the young prince who I thought was terrific. - James Davey | 17 Feb 13 |
| Very happy at the end of the first half but somewhat less so by the end.Splendid performances by Jo Stone-Fewings , Tara Fitzgerald and Rakie Aayola but the industrial take on the "Pastoral" scene never took off.I did not find Autolycus even slightly amusing and the pickpocketing seemed far from slick.Thefinal scene was well done and for once the final exit dance(obligatory nowadays at RSC?) seemed appropriate. For the first time we were sitting a row from the back but not too much on the side;even so did not see the Bear on the back video and in his first big scene in the second half when Leontes was halfway down the tower(we think) he could not be seen at all.There seem to be a lot of restricted view seats in this new auditorium. - Midsman | 03 Feb 13 |
| I think that the above review by Simon Taverner is spot on - certainly good in parts but, overall, average, and unbalanced. - Greville | 02 Feb 13 |
| I must disagree in Simon Taveners rating. It was a very enjoyable production. This is supported from comments I overhead from other members of the audience, I knew it was press night so I paid particular interest in peoples comments. One said 'This is the first time I have been, I thought I would not understand it, but it was brilliant". Another on leaving looked at his watch and said" I can't believe the time it has flown by, that was great". A third said "that was suberb ,superb acting, everything was excellent". Overall the cast was excellent and I agree that Pearce Quigley did steal the show but not by much. The CGI was effective without being distracting and the ivory Tower was very clever. Certainly I would recommend seeing it. - Tim O'Connell | 31 Jan 13 |
