iDrawing: "The Winter's Tale" by New York Classical Theatre

Mairin Lee as Hermione and Brad Fraizer as Leontes

Here are my (way overdue) summer reportage drawings of The Winter's Tale production by the amazing New York Classical Theatre, directed by Stephen Burdman. The main theme of this Shakespearian comedy (which, to me, felt more like a tragedy 'till the last act) is marital fidelity, devastating power of jealousy, forgiveness and Time.

I attended performances in both Battery and Brooklyn Bridge parks. Each park transforms the play. Battery park feels much more intimate, in contrast with the magnitude of Manhattan skyline in Brooklyn Bridge Park. What a luxury it is to attend awesome off-Broadway productions on summer nights, for free, outdoors, in some of the most beautiful parks in New York...and be able to see it again, as long as it doesn't rain! If you're not familiar with the panoramic nature of New York Classical theater, here's one of the latest reviews.

The Winter's Tale was the second production of New York Classical's 17th summer season, the first being A Midsummer Night's Dream (drawings here). I look forward to the 18th season, wondering what kind of magic Stephen Burdman, theatre's Artistic Director, is preparing for us next.

p.s. Check out this fantastic illustrated synopsis of the Battery Park staging by my friend, artist Evan Turk!

Sunset in Brooklyn Bridge Park

Brad Fraizer as Leontes, Peyton Lusk as Mamillius, David Heron as Polixenes (foreground)

Leontes and Paulina

Brad Fraizer as Leontes and Lisa Tharps as Paulina

John Michalski as Camillo

Leontes:

“Is whispering nothing?
Is leaning cheek to cheek? Is meeting noses?
Kissing with inside lip? Stopping the career
Of laughter with a sigh?- a note infallible
Of breaking honesty. Horsing foot on foot?
Skulking in corners? Wishing clocks more swift;
Hours, minutes; noon, midnight? And all eyes
Blind with the pin and web but theirs, theirs only,
That would unseen be wicked - is this nothing?
Why, then the world and all that's in't is nothing;
The covering sky is nothing; Bohemia nothing;
My is nothing; nor nothing have these nothings,
If this be nothing.”