"A Merry Winter's Tale Would Drive Away The Time Trimly," Suggests A Character From The Old Wives' Tale, A Play By One Of Shakespeare's Lesser-Known Contemporaries. And Indeed, Elizabethan Audiences Recognized A "Winter's Tale" As A Fanciful Story, Rendered All The More Appealing By Its Very Improbability. The Bard's Version Of This Traditional Entertainment Is A Charming Romantic Comedy, But With Undertones Of Tragedy.