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Statuary coming to life
1. 2. 3. 4.

The Winter's Tale

In Shakespeare's The Winter's Tale, a monarch's jealousy causes the death of his queen and son, and the abandonment of his infant daughter. At the end of the play, the queen's statue comes to life to bring forgiveness and reconciliation to the king and their rescued daughter. Viola Allen, whose 1905 New York production in New York revived interest in the "problem play," can be seen and heard in the dual roles of Hermione and Perdita.


The Winter's Tale (Shakespeare)
Photograph by Byron, NY, of the final scene, 1905
Viola Allen as Hermione with Henry Jewett as Leontes and a stand-in for Perdita
Billy Rose Theatre Collection
     
  Listen to Viola Allen (trial scene speech)










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