_{Raúl Esparza, left, as Leontes and Lily Rabe as Hermione in “The Winter’s Tale” at the Delacorte Theater in Manhattan. Credit: Sara Krulwich / The New York Times Alexis Soloski}

Shakespeare’s The Winter’s Tale, one of the bard’s problem plays with its themes of wrong-headed leadership and outright cruelty, may not seem a likely crowd pleaser. The nod to our current political drama may inflame some. In the play, King Leontes’ (Raul Esparza) jealous rage leads to the deaths of his young son, his wife Hermoine (Lily Rabe), and her newborn baby. Here is a king who ignores good counsel and his fate as foretold by Apollo’s oracle. By the end of the first act: he deserves to suffer.

The night I saw it, the audience suffered too. This being Shakespeare in the Park, a literal gift to audiences who can see state-of-the-art bard for free, the elements may be at issue for players and viewers alike. If the evening starts with a drizzle, the play must go on. Umbrellas down, unless you are covered in plastic, you may be drenched, wondering, is the pure joy of seeing extraordinary actors shine speaking Shakespeare’s words worth it?

The Public theater personnel extended the intermission in order to sponge the stage. Was it a sign? More drama: would the play go on? Everyone cheered that it would even though at this point the evening would extend past midnight.

The Winter’s Tale is yin and yang; extreme darkness before the break contrasts with a beautiful, joyous pastoral for the second act, and the crashing together of the two worlds. This play offers extreme comedy, tragedy and romance all in one work–conveying a transcendent—and supernatural– plot. Under Daniel Sullivan’s excellent direction, the ensemble shines even under clouds. In the end and without spoilers, the play exemplifies compassion, redemption, and humanity for which the bard is celebrated. Live Shakespeare is a rich experience. The weather is less forgiving.