麻豆影院

CU-麻豆影院 instructor Lynn Nichols, former general manager of the Colorado Shakespeare Festival, is set to direct an on-campus production of 鈥淭he Winter鈥檚 Tale,鈥� Jan. 27-31, at CU-麻豆影院鈥檚 Loft Theatre. The all-student cast brings William Shakespeare鈥檚 timeless tragicomedy to life with vintage costumes and interactive staging.

In this innovative production, mismatched chairs and lights hang from the ceiling of CU-麻豆影院鈥檚 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 play鈥檚 main character, King Leontes.

鈥淲e wanted to create this fragmented environment out of found objects that resonates with the inside of Leontes鈥檚 mind,鈥� said Nichols. 鈥淭he play is so much about the king鈥檚 sense of self coming apart and deteriorating, followed by the realization of what he鈥檚 done, followed by healing and coming back together.鈥�

The Shakespeare veteran characterized his production as a 鈥渓oose鈥� interpretation. During shows, the cast will casually move among the audience, often changing costumes onstage and performing within inches of seated patrons.

鈥淲e鈥檙e doing a version of what鈥檚 called immersive theater,鈥� he said. 鈥淔or 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, I鈥檝e wanted to do 鈥楾he Winter鈥檚 Tale鈥� here.鈥�

鈥淭he Winter鈥檚 Tale鈥� 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. It鈥檚 a timeless story of sadness and regret, tinged with moments of lighthearted humor.

鈥淲ith this play, some say Shakespeare invented the concept of a tragicomedy,鈥� said Nichols says. 鈥淭he 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.鈥�

One thing that sets this play apart from Shakespeare鈥檚 other work, Nichols explains, is that 16 years elapses between two acts. It鈥檚 enough time for Leontes, the Sicilian king, to realize the grave error he made in condemning his queen and disowning his daughter.

鈥淭hey say time heals all wounds,鈥� he said. 鈥淲hat 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.鈥�

Showtimes:

Tickets for 鈥淭he Winter鈥檚 Tale鈥� 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 .