THE WINTER'S TALE SYNOPSIS

ACT 1. SCENE 1.

The play begins with Archidamus, an ambassador from the kingdom of Bohemia, talking about the warm welcome he and his fellow Bohemians have received in the kingdom of Sicilia. Camillo, a lord in the Sicilian court, talks with Archidamus about the life-long friendship between King Leontes (Sicilia) and King Polixenes (Bohemia).

Camillo and Archidamus also talk about King Leontes' son, Prince Mamillius, and how he will someday become a great leader.

ACT 1. SCENE 2.

King Leontes laughs with his pregnant wife Hermione and their friend, the visiting king of Bohemia, Polixenes. Polixenes has been in Sicilia for 9 months on a royal visit and Leontes attempts to convince his childhood friend to stay longer. He regretfully declines.

When Polixenes says he must go, Leontes playfully asks Hermione to convince him to stay. When she good-naturedly orders Polixenes to stay, Polixenes relents and agrees to extend his visit.

King Leontes becomes suspicious that Polixiones and Hermione may be closer than he had thought.

As the evening continues, Polixiones and Hermione continue to warmly chat, further convincing Leontes that Hermione has been unfaithful to him.

Prince Mamillius observes his father. Leontes becomes outwardly disturbed at the idea of Hermione's infidelity.

Leontes calls Camillo over to discuss his suspicions. Though Camillo attempts to reason with Leontes, the king becomes irate and orders Camillo to murder Polixenes before he can return to Bohemia.

Camillo, feeling trapped between disobeying the king's orders and killing an innocent man, decides to tell Polixenes of the murder plot set in place by Leontes. Both men fear for their safety and decide to flee back to Bohemia that night.

ACT 2. SCENE 1.

King Leontes discovers that King Polixenes, Camillo and the rest of the Bohemians have fled Sicilia. He becomes enraged.

He accuses Hermione of being unfaithful to him. He claims that the child she is pregnant with is not his own, but Polixiones's. Hermione tries to combat his claims, but is arrested for adultry and treason at the order of her husband.

Leontes explains that he has sent two Sicilian lords, Cleomenes and Dion, to seek out the shrine of Apollo. There, he hopes Cleomenes and Dion will receive divine advice on the situation.

ACT 2. SCENE 2.

Hermione's friend Paulina goes to visit Hermione in the prison. There, Paulina talks with Emilia, Hermione's lady in waiting, about how the queen is doing.

Emilia shares that Hermione has had her baby while in prison. The newborn - a baby girl - has been good for her spirits, though she still can't believe her husband would punish her for something she didn't do.

Paulina has an idea. She asks Emilia to let her take the princess to show to Leontes. She hopes that when the king sees his daughter, he will start to be reasonable again.

Emilia and the jailer agree and go to fetch the baby.

ACT 2. SCENE 3.

Leontes is still extremely distraught at the idea of Hermione's infidelity.

Paulina enters with the baby princess. When she advocates for Hermione's innocence, Leontes becomes even more furious. The two fight.

King Leontes calls up Antigonus, Paulina's husband, and orders him to abandon the baby and leave her to die. Though Paulina objects, Anigonus shows his loyalty to Leontes and takes the princess away.

When Antigonus leaves, Leontes learns that Cleomenes and Dion have returned after their 23 day journey to the shrine of Apollo.

Leontes decides to put Hermione on trail for her treason. He plans to shame her with the sentence Cleomenes and Dion have returned with.

On their way back to the castle, Clemones and Dion discuss what they've experienced on their trip to Delphos. Following Leontes orders, they consulted with an oracle who has sent a judgement on the whole situation. Both Clemones and Dion hope that what the oracle has shared will mean Hermione will be released.

ACT 3. SCENE 1 - 2.

Hermione is on trial for infidelity and treason. She attempts to defend herself to Leontes and the court, but he is not moved.

When the ruling from the oracle is read and declares Hermione and Polixenes innocent, Leontes refuses to believe it and says it must be false.

Just then, a messenger arrives with sad news. Prince Mamillius, the son of Leontes and Hermione, has died.

Leontes immediately comes out of his rage. He believes Mamillius's death is all his fault for testing the gods.

When Hermione hears that Mamillius is dead, she faints. Paulina rushes to Hermione's side. Leontes, now filled with regret, calls for help and the guards take Hermione off followed by Paulina.

Paulina returns. She tells Leontes that Hermione has died. Leontes is disgusted with himself and his action and promises to spend the remainder of his life grieving for his family.

ACT 3. SCENE 3.

Antigonus, still on his mission, abandons the baby princess on the shores of Bohemia. Before he leaves the baby, who the audience learns is named Perdita, he gives her some gold in the hope that someone will find the baby and raise her.

Suddenly, a storm blows in and wrecks Antigonus's ship. He hears a noise from the wilderness and is chased and eaten by a bear.

A Bohemian shepherd appears and spots the baby abandoned on the shore. The shepherd is joined by his son who shares that he has witnessed the death of all the sailors and Antigonus.

The father and son decide to take the baby in and raise her as part of their family. Before they leave with the baby, the son says that he will attempt to bury what is left of Antigonus once the bear is done with him.

ACT 4. SCENE 1.

The character of Time appears and informs the audience that 16 years have past since the events of the previous scene. Perdita is now a young shepherdess who has grown up in Bohemia.

Camillo misses his home country of Sicilia and requests permission to return from King Polixenes. Polixenes denies his wish and instead asks Camillo to help him spy on his son, Prince Florizel.

Florizel has been sneaking away to spend time with a young shepherdess (Perdita). Polixenes and Florizel dress up as shepherds to spy on him.

Autolycus is a con man and petty thief. He tricks the younger shepherd and steals his money before deciding to attend a sheep sheering festival happening in the town nearby. He hopes the festival will give him more chances to steal.

ACT 4. SCENE 4.

Prince Florizel and Perdita are in love. Perdita is nervous that if Florizel's father, King Polixenes, discovers his son is in love with a shepherdess, he will order them to stop seeing one another. Florizel tells Perdita not to worry about what his father thinks.

The sheepshearing festival and feast are about to begin. Shepherds come from all over to partake in the celebration, including Camillo and King Polixenes is disguise. Perdita's adopted father encourages her to be a good host and welcome everyone, especially the strangers (Camillo and Polixenes).

While the celebration is happening, Autolycus arrives. He flirts with shepherdesses Dorcas and Mopsa, feasts on the party food and sings songs.

Also during the celebration, Florizel (who goes by Doricles to disguise his royal identity to the other shepherds) asks Perdita to marry him. She accepts!

Perdita's father, the Old Shepherd, is just about to marry the couple when King Polixenes reveals himself. He calls for the wedding to stop on the basis that Perdita is a shepherdess and too lowly for the Prince to marry.

After King Polixenes leaves, Perdita's father, the Old Shepherd, feels tricked by Florizel and Perdita and refuses to marry them. Perdita is crushed and tells Florizel she knew their difference in social class would keep them apart.

Camillo reveals himself to the distraught young couple. Florizel and Perdita make plans to run away together. Camillo suggests they consider traveling to Sicilia and seeking asylum there. The three of them make plans to leave Bohemia.

The Shepherd and his son want to speak to King Polixenes to let him know they were unaware of Florizel and Perdita's relationship. They ask Autolycus to help lead them to the king.

ACT 5. SCENE 1.

Back in the Kingdom of Sicilia, King Leontes has been mourning his wife, son and daughter for the last 16 years. His advisors encourage him to move on, but Paulina says that his grief is justified.

King Leontes learns that Prince Florizel has arrived in Sicilia with his princess, looking for an audience with him. At first, he is surprised since he hasn't spoken to King Polixenes (Florizel's father) in 16 years, but then invites the young couple in.

When Florizel and Perdita meet King Leontes, Florizel explains that they have fled in order to be together. They soon learn that King Polixenes, Camillo, the Old Shepherd and his Son have all followed them to Sicilia. King Leontes offers to make peace between Florizel and Polixenes.

ACT 5. SCENE 2.

Autolycus learns from members of the royal household that King Leontes's daughter has been found and the oracle's vision fulfilled! Perdita and Leontes have reunited as daughter and father at long last.

After Autolycus finds out the news, he talks with the Old Shepherd and his Son, who have been rewarded for raising Perdita with titles and money. At first, the Son teases Autolycus and makes him promise to reform his rascal ways, but then promises to put in a good word for Autolycus with the Kings.

Then they all leave to go look at a newly unveiled portrait of the late Queen Hermione.

ACT 5. SCENE 3.

Leontes takes Perdita to see a statue of Queen Hermione. Paulina unveils this very life-like statue to the amazement of everyone in the room.

Leontes and Perdita each have a moment with the statue. Leontes apologizes for his actions 20 years ago. Perdita expresses her love for the mother she never knew.

Paulina instructs the "sculpture" to come down off her mantel and reveals that it was the real Hermione all along! Paulina has helped hide her for all these years until the oracle's prophesy came true.

Queen Hermione and King Leontes embrace at long last. Hermione and Perdita reunite. Peace is restored in across the kingdoms.

Credits:

Photos by Michael Brosilow.