PORT TOWNSEND — There is a Shakespeare play not everyone knows: a story of jealousy, love and intrigue. For years, artistic director Denise Winter dreamed of staging this play at Key City Public Theatre, but it never seemed to be the right time.
Now, that moment has arrived.
“The Winter’s Tale,” which the Bard penned about 400 years ago, is poised to unfold in a distinctly Key City way. It is set in contemporary times in the California wine country — a vision that belongs to director Denise Winter.
Opening Thursday and running through March 16, this Shakespearean play is about people of wealth and privilege who don’t make the best choices. It is a sexy tale not appropriate for young children, according to the website, keycitypublic theatre.org.
Show times are 7:30 p.m. this Thursday and each Friday and Saturday, and 1:30 p.m. each Sunday of the play’s four-week run. Tickets are available on the website and at 360-385-5278. The box office at the Key City Playhouse, 419 Washington St., opens three hours before each showtime.
“I wanted to put my heart and soul into it,” Winter said of the tale.
Another reason winter 2025 is the time: This season, Winter marks her 20th anniversary at the helm of Key City Public Theatre.
“The Winter’s Tale,” she is quick to note, is considered one of Shakespeare’s “problem plays.” For her, that’s an enticing thing.
“What I like about that is I can make bold choices — because no one’s really figured it out … it’s really interesting to have that much freedom within a script,” she said.
“Shakespeare drops Easter eggs all over the place,” and, true to form, the playwright mixes darkness and light, good and evil, life and death, all in his poetic style.
The story is about betrayal and redemption, and about “image, and how you’re seen, and what you’ve heard, and why you know,” Winter said.
She added that — of course — the internet and social media make their way into this telling.
Geoffery Simmons, the Seattle-based actor who portrays the jealous husband, said “Winter’s Tale” is a provocative story about people who live a life of excess — with the attendant psychodrama and romance mixed in.
“My character, Leontes, is so deep and dark. And the subject matter is so inviting for an actor,” he said.
The production has a bit of magic realism, Simmons added — and it has gritty truths.
“It’s a tale you can tell in all cultures,” he said.
“We are sort of a multicultural cast … and we’re exploring some issues of gender identity,” that will give audience members more to think about.
Simmons, who appeared in Key City’s award-winning musical “Gunmetal Blues” last spring, admires Winter for the way she respects the work, the audience, the actors and the crew.
As artistic director, “she’s all in, all the time,” he said.
“She gives so much.”
“The Winter’s Tale” crew includes costumer Corinne Adams, set designer Katie Oman, lighting designer Karen Anderson, sound designer Dalin Costello and stage manager Raven McMillin.
As director, Winter streamlines the tale to a tight cast: Simmons as Leontes, Kat Agudo as Paulina, Brendan Chambers as Polixenes, Rosaletta Curry as Hermione, Bry Kifolo as Florizell, Gabs Nathanson as Mamillius/Perdito, and Andrew Yabroff as Camillo. D.D. Wigley makes a cameo appearance.
“The Winter’s Tale” has “a darkness and a tragedy to it — and it also has a complete lightness of being. In the end, they blend into what I believe is a message of hope,” Winter said.
“We don’t get to forget about the tragedy. We have to believe that is exactly the blend of life.”
Winter believes these characters, with their struggles and their search for meaning, will resonate deeply with theater-goers.
“Shakespeare,” she said, “puts it all on the table for us.”
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Diane Urbani de la Paz is a freelance writer and photographer who lives in Port Townsend.
