The Winter's Tale at Chicago Shakespeare Theater

Chicago Tribune - Recommended

"...William Shakespeare's "The Winter's Tale," which you can now see on Navy Pier in a visiting production from the distinguished and envelope-pushing British company known as Cheek by Jowl, is one of the Bard's trickiest and most eclectic dramas, veering from intense psychological drama around the common Shakespearean theme of a false accusation of adultery, to broad Bohemian rustic comedy, to an emotional ending that seems to cheat death itself. You could reduce the play to "Othello" with a happier ending, I suppose, but this also is a drama about the paradox of how we spend many of the years in which we are old enough to know better paying the price for things we did when we were not. And sadness pervades."

Chicago Reader - Not Recommended

"...In the psychologically empty finale, dead Hermione's statute comes to life and everyone does a stylized group hug. Throughout, emotional overembellishment prevents personal exchanges from turning into meaningful relationships, let alone a cogent story. And in what universe do people both use cell phones and worship Apollo? If the point here is that our splintered contemporary world makes no sense, point taken."

Chicago On the Aisle - Highly Recommended

"...Five hundred twenty-five thousand six hundred minutes in a year, and Chicagoland theater buffs have spent a goodly part of their 2016 allocation reveling in the many and wondrously diverse events of Shakespeare 400 Chicago. This circle of opportunity, revelation and indeed riotous and profound fun - engineered mainly by Chicago Shakespeare Theater and its artistic director, Barbara Gaines - comes to a close Dec. 21 with the final performances of "The Winter's Tale." It's a crackling production by the British company Cheek by Jowl, and one that brings the yearlong observance back to its auspicious starting place."