RSC ‘Winter’s Tale’ Opens at Scholars

By Dan Guarino

On Friday night, December 12, the lights will go up on the Rockaway Shakespeare Company’s (RSC) first production, “The Winter’s Tale,” on the Scholars’ Academy stage. Brought into the present day, the Shakespeare penned play, a tale of jealousy, loyalties, hidden identities, redemption, love, an almost shipwreck, and even humor and music, is now worked into a brisk, entertaining 90-minute version.

“The Winter’s Tale” will be performed at the school’s auditorium at 320 Beach 104th Street off Beach Channel Drive, on Friday, December 12 and Saturday, December 13, at 7 p.m. and Sunday, December 14, at 2 p.m. Admission is a $5 donation, cash-only at the door, and is open to all.

RSC is grateful for their partnership with Scholars’ and the Knights of Columbus for providing space for the project’s educational workshops, Manhattan’s Players Theatre for hosting an additional actor’s workshop, and the First Congregational Church for providing rehearsal space.

A romance, a drama and comedy laced with music, “The Winter’s Tale” is set in the kingdoms of Sicilia and Bohemia, where both kings have been lifelong friends. But jealousies soon arise as Sicilia’s king begins to doubt his wife, and sets in motion events that span decades and send ripples from the shores of one kingdom to another and back. A Royal Shakespeare Company featured article by Oxford professor Emma Smith calls it “a parable of human failings and forgiveness.”

The Rockaway Shakespeare Company, created by Rockaway/Broad Channel actors, and largely featuring local peninsula performers, has been hard at work on a highly accelerated production and rehearsal schedule. Under the direction of international arts educator, theater producer/show creator, director and England’s Royal Shakespeare Company associate practitioner Fiona Ross, their First Congregational rehearsal room has rung out with laughter, stage shouting, and celebration as the cast and creative team has shaped the show together. Balloons fly through the air, actors are rolling, laughing, moving, twirling chairs together and becoming a sea-tossed ship, then a moving, ravenous bear. Music is worked through, some created by cast members on the spot. Actors feel out their movements and characters.

Along with a very brief rehearsal timeframe and deliberately minimum staging and set design, each cast member will also perform a variety of roles, portraying lords and lovers, courtiers and kings, spirits, shepherds, mariners, pickpockets and clowns. Also, whatever their parts, all offer up ideas to make this the best production it can be.

Working with Ross through all this are RSC’s originator and producer Kaitlin Reed Boyce and stage manager Zoe Gilfix.

Crossing continents, cultures and language, even Shakespeare’s “Old English,” with numerous plays, Ross has brought this program to actors and audiences as far away as Japan, Bangkok and China.

She said, “They love the plays! The stories are universal. Sometimes Shakespeare is put on a pedestal. And it’s important that we make the play ‘belong’ to us — and make a connection over the 400 years.

“For me, that’s about making it contemporary. Audiences overseas are often surprised by this approach, as traditionally it’s been about (old-fashioned) doublets and hose!”

Describing “The Winter’s Tale,” Ross said, “It’s a cautionary tale, like many old fairytales, of what happens when we’re challenged by a powerful figure who becomes convinced of their own truth and refuses to accept that they may be wrong. It asks us to consider whether we are always right, and what happens if we step back from challenging untruths.”

She explained, “the play is one of William Shakespeare’s later works, where he is playing with form. (It’s) a ‘Romance,’ a mix of comedy and tragedy, following an almost fairytale like structure. I love the shocks within it — and the daring of the writer.

“It’s a play of two halves. Shakespeare has reached the stage of career where he’s pushing the limits of structure. At its heart is the story of a fractured family, and the importance of surrounding yourself with honest friends. And after a first half of almost unbearable events, (it) offers us a glimpse of a life that has second chances and potential for hope.

“…And of course, it has the most famous stage direction. ‘Exit- pursued by a bear.’ Hmmm.”

The Rockaway Shakespeare Company’s production of “The Winter’s Tale” at Scholars’ itself springs from a years’ long desire to bring the English language’s most famous writer to our peninsula, with a definite Rockaway twist.

Discussions actually started two years ago. In 2023, many current RSC members worked together in the Shakespeare on the Beach production of “A Midsummer Night’s Dream.” Its one-night performance at the Beach 94th Street Amphitheater drew over 300 people.

Other members from that production also went on to separately form Shakespeare on the Rocks and present last summer’s “Romeo and Juliet” at the amphitheater. Additional cast members from that production are now part of RSC’s “The Winter’s Tale.”

Fiona Ross notes she knows RSC’s producer Kaitlin Creed Boyce “from another gig, and she’s worked tirelessly to get this project off the ground.”

The biggest challenge, she said, is “the lack of time. It’s a quick turnaround of two weeks, and in that time we have to build a company, work on not only the creative aspect but also the technical and production side.” Though she has “done a very heavy edit of the text, there are still a lot of words for the cast to grapple with. Also, we have 12 actors, so nearly everyone is multi-rolling, which is fun but challenging.”

This is Ross’ first ever artistic residence in Queens, directing this production and conducting concurrent educational programs, and first experience of Rockaway.  About her two-and-half week stay here, she says, “It’s an unknown for me, so I’m looking forward to discovering another part of NYC. I’ve worked in the city a few times with the Royal Shakespeare Company, but haven’t seen the coast before!”

Amid rehearsals, someone points out a window at an “Only in Rockaway” sight.  There, in next-door yard, is very large statue of a bear.

A good omen? Only time and “The Winter’s Tale” will tell.

 Photos by Dan Guarino.