The Winter's Tale. Lyceum Theatre. Edinburgh. 29-Sept-07

Let's be honest. If you cut out the temptation to bardology, The Winter's Tale is pretty much un-producable. There is almost zero drama - Leontes goes mad - there is no fight within himself to stop what he is doing - nobody can stop him - so there is only 'spectacle'. Areas that could be used for drama aren't: there is a tiny bit of suspense about the notion that the shepherd's won't get chance to reveal Perdita's identity but nothing is made of this; there would be the big scene of Perdita's identity proved and Florizel's reconciliation with Polixones which the play avoids staging ect etc.
It has to be said, the Lyceum production made a really good fist of making the thing work. The daft - statue come to life scene - they got it to work. And the impossible part of Leonties was actually carried off (especially in the first part of the play) by the actor. It really was a terrific performance by Liam Brennan who delivered the lines with a Scottish accent.
It is such a luxury to be able to actors like Brennan just 10 minutes away from the doorstep. he really does dominate the imagination when he has played a character. I have seen a few Iago's but the brilliant performance he gave at the Lyceum three years ago was so electric it has made any other Iago's I have seen feel either beside the point or only skin deep.