Shakespeare’s exploration of unfounded paranoia and royal delusion returns to Central Park this summer as part of the Public Theater’s Free Shakespeare in the Park series at the Delacorte Theater. Directed by theater veteran Daniel Sullivan, the staging features Raúl Esparza as the jealous king of Sicily, Leontes, and Lily Rabe as Hermione, the queen falsely accused of infidelity with King Polixenes of Bohemia, played by Gilbert Owuor.
Exploring Morbid Jealousy on Stage
The play sets its tragedy in motion when Leontes convinces himself that a pregnant Hermione is carrying his friend’s child, leading him to imprison his wife and banish their newborn daughter, Perdita. Hermione ultimately collapses and dies offstage, overwhelmed by grief following the sudden death of her other son.
To prepare for the demanding role of the unhinged tyrant, Esparza turned to clinical observation. I studied videos of people with delusional jealousy. ‘Morbid jealousy,’ it is called,
he noted in an interview. While the psychological condition is also known as Othello syndrome
after Shakespeare’s other famously jealous protagonist, Esparza finds a universal thread in the character’s erratic shifts.
“I recognize Leontes because I have had moments of extraordinary jealousy and anger that come out of nowhere. You can’t stop the feelings. They just go out of control.”
Raúl Esparza, via Vogue
Lily Rabe’s Homecoming at the Renovated Delacorte Theater
For Rabe, stepping back onto the iconic Central Park stage brought a mix of apprehension and relief. She admits she was nervous returning to the venue following its extensive $85 million renovation, which introduced modern backstage air conditioning and improved public accessibility. Those worries vanished when she brought her family to tour the grounds before rehearsals began.
Rabe last starred at the Delacorte in 2015’s Cymbeline alongside partner Hamish Linklater, before the family temporarily relocated to Los Angeles. Returning under the direction of Sullivan—whom she describes as an automatic yes—places Hermione alongside a celebrated line of Shakespearean heroines she has previously tackled at the venue, including Portia, Rosalind, Beatrice, and Imogen.
“With all of these women, it’s not even that they’re ahead of their time. The plays are always current and speaking to the time that we are in.”
Lily Rabe, via TheaterMania
The production’s rehearsal schedule faced unique modern hurdles this past July, disrupted by severe air quality alerts across New York City. Rabe noted that while acting through rainstorms is a familiar challenge for outdoor theater, navigating hazardous air quality was an unprecedented experience.
Broadway Horizons in Galileo and Other Desert Cities
Both lead actors are looking ahead to high-profile Broadway returns once their summer in Central Park concludes. Esparza’s performance as Leontes precedes his upcoming role in Galileo, a new musical opening this December that marks his first appearance on the main stem in 14 years.
“Returning to Broadway is a very big deal. My last show, Leap of Faith, which I loved very much and loved doing, it had a great score but did not get a great production. It was a bit traumatic.”
Raúl Esparza, via Vogue
Esparza pointed to historical parallels between Shakespeare’s era and the themes explored in his upcoming musical project. Shakespeare wrote The Winter’s Tale when Galileo looked up at the stars.
he observed, noting how state control over accepted truths resonates with contemporary political climates.
Meanwhile, Rabe transitions directly from Central Park into rehearsals for a Broadway revival of Jon Robin Baitz’s Other Desert Cities, beginning previews in late September.
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