A group of SF State thespians entertained audiences last weekend with the Shakespearean play, “A Winter’s Tale.” The 74-seat Studio Theater inside the Creative Arts Building was the home for this student-run production that ran from its opening night on Thursday to its closing matinee on Sunday.

“The Winter’s Tale” is a fable about the psychological deterioration of a king suffocating from paranoia and jealousy. These traits decay his sanity and destroy the relationships with the people he loves. Though the play’s plot sounds bleak, actor Mikka Bonel insists it’s not.

“This play is a comedy,” said Bonel, who played the rogue Autolycus. “Everybody ends up happy.”

Students Jeremy Forbing and Monte Tom directed the two-act play set in Sicilia and Bohemia during two time periods. A 16-year gap separates the lives of a family ripped apart by the false presumptions and the abused mind of King Leontes, played by Aaron Texeira, who believes his best friend impregnated his queen. Years later, the children of the two best friends fall in love and find their families together once again.

According to Tom, the play is about the bizarre nature of jealousy and the unreasonableness of it. “The concept is timeless,” said Tom. “Such as Shakespeare.”

The actors’ costumes were modernized to depict the 1930’s and 40’s, but according to Tom, it had no influence on the actual story. Kurt Daw, the new dean of the Theater Department explained that many Shakespearean plays have been tweaked with modern touches to help the audience relate.

The production team also kept the set design minimal, so the audience could focus on the 400-year-old words. “With Shakespeare it’s all about the language,” said Lindsay Cookson, who played Perdita, King Leontes’ teenage daughter.

The Sicilia set consisted only of a rolling lamp, a ladder and a trunk with white linen draped over it. The second act in Bohemia was brighter and featured ripped flannel flags and colorful Persian rugs to signify the comedic part of the work.

The play was completely student produced, without the aid of an advisor, director Forbing said. The 28-person production included two directors, 12 technical staff and 14 actors. The cast and crew were completely responsible for the wardrobe, set, sound, lighting and budget.

“We have no money, so it’s hard. It’s just us,” said Whitney Thomas, who played Antigone, a lady of Sicilia. “But that is when we learn the most. We learn our craft.”

Forbing added that the show was well-received. “Our cast and crew were dedicated to the end product and worked really well together.”

Opening night audience members spoke of the production during intermission.

Emily Parrish, 18, who studies cinema, said she she enjoyed the unfamiliarity of the play. “I like going in and not knowing what’s going to happen.”

Monika Rhodes, 18, said that she was surprised that the costumes were modern. “It helped me better understand the names and relationships of the characters,” Rhodes said. “I can relate to it easier.”

Daw described the opening night performance as “magical.” After only 21 days as the dean, he is impressed and excited to see what more the department has to offer. “If everything else is as well executed and as fresh and this production, then I think this is a genius department.”