Shakespeare returns to Old Wethersfield: Times Fool Co. presents ‘The Winter’s Tale’

by Mark Jahne

Editor

August in Old Wethersfield brings outdoor theater to the lawn of the Keeney Memorial Cultural Center. It’s always a play by William Shakespeare performed by a local theater group called the Times Fool Co.

Wethersfield resident Wesley Broulik is the producing artistic director who founded Times Fool during the dark days of the COVID-19 pandemic. Its shows have become an annual attraction and this year’s presentation is “The Winter’s Tale.”

It’s not one of the Bard’s most well-known works but it appeals to Broulik because it has both tragic and comedic elements that result in redemption for the lead character King Leontis. Performances are scheduled for Aug. 5-9 and Aug. 11-15. All shows begin at 6 p.m. except on Fridays, when they begin at 8 p.m. in a lamplight setting. Admission is free.

The Times Fool Co. presents an outdoor Shakespeare play every summer in front of the Keeney Memorial Cultural Center. This scene is from “Romeo & Juliet.” Photo by Ben Jordan Photo Images Co.

Professional actor Tim Dugan has the lead role. He worked with Broulik in the past and they share a passion for the works of Shakespeare. Dugan was the associate artistic director of the Saratoga (N.Y.) Shakespeare Co. He’s also an associate professor at Bates College in Maine in its Theater and Dance Department.

This is the fourth time they have paired up to present a play. “The Winter’s Tale” was written for five acts and has a cast of seven.

“The first half of the play is from the Gilded Age. The second part is more American regionalism” along the idea of Grandma Moses and Grant Wood, Broulik said.

Music is also part of the show. He enjoys tweaking things a bit and fans of Fleetwood Mac will recognize the song “Landslide.”

King Leontis is a challenging character for Dugan to portray. Shakespeare wrote him as a complex character who is both protagonist and antagonist, with a profound dark side. It takes a while for that to evolve into true redemption.

Lead actor Tim Dugan, left, and Producing Artistic Director Wesley Broulik of Times Fool Co. will present Williams Shakespeare’s “The Winter’s Tale” outdoors in Old Wethersfield. Photo by Mark Jahne

“This play bothers me in a lot of ways,” Broulik said.

It raises more questions than it answers. But that also adds to its artistic appeal.

“The audience is another character in the play, along with the traffic and the dogs and the airplanes” that are all part of performing outdoors along busy Main Street, he added.

Broulik smiled and said they will need to cope with distractions such as fire engines racing by with sirens blaring. Shakespeare never had to worry about such matters.

“Ultimately, it’s a play about redemption. My hope is to use the audience as a scene partner. There are a lot of asides in the play,” Dugan said. WL

For more information call 860-597-4745 or visit timesfool.org.