But...What If It Didn't?

Venus de Milo
via mlahanas.de.

What if the statue didn't come to life? In our Shakespeare class the other day, Dr. Burton was discussing some points regarding the analysis of live productions of Shakespeare plays. We have been reading The Winter's Tale, and in reference to the final scene, Dr. Burton said that even though he has read the play and knows the end, when he watches live performances, he finds himself anticipating the moment that Hermione is "resurrected" and her statue comes to life and wonders, "Is she really going to come alive?" Well, what if she didn't?

I can't help but be entertained at the idea. How could it happen? There are several ways:

1. Paulina's "black magic" could fail, bringing disappointment to all
2. Paulina could never suggest the possibility Hermione coming back to life, and the statue really is just a statue
3. The statue scene could simply not take place

I'm sure there are others, but these are the most obvious ways. So what would the repercussions of this be? 

• Leontes's penitence would go unrewarded, with the obvious exception of his reconciliation with Polixenes and his reunion with his daughter
• The play would lose its final spectacle
• The best repercussion, though? The reaction of the audience

We could analyze the effect of this change to the text and story all we want. However, I think that this change should be a change made in a live production. The surprise and deflation experienced by the audience members familiar with the play would be palpable. How could this be different? Isn't this the great moment of the play? Well, I don't know, is it? What would a performance be like without it?

Maybe it would be an avant-garde move by a great theater company. Or, maybe it would just be a great prank.

(P.S. Imagine a statue of Hermione like the Venus de Milo? No arms? Surely the audience would gasp at that.)