THE STING & HONEY COMPANY, THE WINTER’S TALE, Leona Wagner Black Box, Rose Wagner Performing Arts Center, Sept. 15; through Sept. 29, tickets at 801-355-2787 or 888-451-2787 or www.arttix.org. (Running time: 2 hours 30 minutes with one intermission.)

Even though it’s the new kid on the block, the Sting & Honey Company is very ambitious. After its highly successful inaugural production of Samuel Beckett’s Waiting for Godot a year ago and This Bird of Dawning Singeth All Night Long, a poignant telling of the Christmas story done in mask, last December, the company decided to turn to William Shakespeare for its next play. But not one of the Bard’s better known works; instead, it picked a work that, while not neglected, isn’t done very often.

The Winter’s Tale is one of Shakespeare’s more intriguing plays. When it opens Hermione is pregnant and her husband Leontes, the king of Sicilia, suspects her of having an affair with Polixenes, the ruler of Bohemia. Hermione denies it but Leontes has her thrown into prison, where she gives birth to a girl, Perdita. Leontes orders Antigonus to take the baby and leave it in the woods. He flees with Perdita to Bohemia, where he abandons her. But before any harm can come to the infant, a kindly shepherd and his son find her and take her home and raise her as one of their own.

Sixteen years pass. Perdita and Florizel, the son of Polixenes, are in love and want to marry. They end up in Sicilia where Perdita is reunited with Leontes, who has been mourning the loss of his wife. Years earlier he had promised Paulina never to remarry without her consent. She now unveils a statue of Hermione, which comes to life; Leontes is overjoyed to have his wife once again.

The cast assembled for this production is superb. Leading off this powerful ensemble is company co-founder and artistic director Javen Tanner in the role of Leontes. His portrayal is richly nuanced and dimensional. His anger over Hermione’s alleged affair and his sorrow at losing her are real and palpable.

Tanner also brings this credibility to the role of the buffoonish but good hearted shepherd. It certainly can’t be easy playing two characters in the same play that are complete opposites, but Tanner makes it work – and makes it work brilliantly.

Deena Marie Manzanares as Hermione brings nobility to her role as the unjustly accused wife. Her portrayal is poignant and heartfelt.

Bijan J. Hosseini’s portrayal of Polixenes is also memorable. He brings humanity to his character.

Paulina is played by Kathryn Atwood. (She has since had to leave the cast and has been replaced by her understudy, Laura D’Agostini.) Atwood’s portrayal is vibrant and strong enough to stand up against Leontes’ anger.

Heidi Klein as the teenaged Perdita is delightful. She brings zest and youthfulness to her role.

The rest of the cast is equally remarkable. Among the cast members that should be mentioned for their work are Roger Dunbar as Antigonus and Autolycus; Stephen Williams as Camillo; and Daniel Anderson as Archidamus and the clown.

The acting by the large contingent of Waterford School drama students in the ensemble and in minor roles is also noteworthy. (Tanner is the chair of Waterford’s theatre department; these are his students, and one can see that they have been taught well.)

The set is Tanner’s design. It is minimalistic and puts the focus of the play firmly, as it should, on the actors.

With such a fabulous cast, this is a production that ought not to be missed. And one is already looking forward to Sting & Honey’s next production.

**(Click here to read Ed Reichel’s preview of Sting & Honey’s production of The Winter’s Tale.)**