The Winter’s Tale takes place in two distinct worlds: Sicilia and Bohemia. It is the tale of a jealous king, Leontes, whose hasty accusation of his wife and subsequent actions brings about the destruction of his kingdom. It is the story of his tragic loss and ultimate redemption.

In this production of The Winter’s Tale, the roles are somewhat reversed as we look at the play as an exploration of survivor’s guilt and place Hermione at the center of the action. Hermione Sicilia, the daughter of renowned socialites, was once a beloved public figure known for her poise, stoicism and grace. She was married to Leontes Sicilia a powerful statesman and adored public figure. Together they represented hope, elegance and courage to all that knew them. Now, however, great and unimaginable personal tragedies have turned Hermione into a shell of her former self. 16 years ago her husband and son died tragically and shortly after the daughter she had been pregnant with at the time was stillborn.

The play opens on the 16th anniversary of Mammillius’ death. The year is 1979. Hermione has attempted to move on with her life, but with little success. She has eschewed public life and rarely makes social appearances. The only people she will see willingly are her best friend Paulina Partlett, a fiery feminist and talented artist who is like a sister to Hermione. The other is Polixenes, Leontes’ best friend since early childhood. Polixenes comforted Hermione through her grief and over the long years of shared grief their friendship has blossomed into love. Hermione has accepted Polixenes’ marriage proposal and the two are due to be wed. But on this day Hermione’s grief overwhelms her. She feels incredibly guilty about her coming marriage to Polixenes; that by remarrying she is somehow betraying Leontes even after all these years. She longs desperately to undo the past and to be reunited with Leontes, Perdita, and Mamillius. She marks the day by spending it at a special room in Paulina’s extensive gallery that serves as a memorial to Leontes and Mamillius. The room features a painting of young Leontes and a statue of Mamillius holding a snowglobe.

When Paulina and Polixenes leave Hermione alone in the gallery to mourn privately, the statue of Mamillius comes to life and tells Hermione a tale of an alternate past that might have been. In this tale Hermione comes face to face with her greatest fear (Leontes’ feeling that she has betrayed him), her guilt (wishing she had died instead of Leontes) and her greatest hope (finally being reunited with Leontes, Mamillius, and Perdita, the daughter she never had the chance to know.) In the end the tale is merely a tale, but a tale that allows Hermione to face her demons once and for all and move towards a glimmer of hope for a springtime that may bring renewal and redemption.