Great Lakes Theater does “Taming of the Shrew’ just for laughs
Written somewhere around 1579 and included in the 1623 First Folio compilation of Shakespeare’s works, Taming of the Shrew is considered Snhakespeare’s greatest comedy. It was considered controversial even at its introduction as evident with John Fletcher’s answering salvo The Woman’s Prize, or the Tamer Tam’d a few years after.
Over the centuries numerous stage adaptations and movies have come about from this central theme of spousal control with the most renowned being the 1967 Taylor-Burton film. There has even been an all female version in a 2003 Globe production.
All of these attempts to capture the essence of the original pale in comparison to the current Great Lakes Theater production now on stage in the Hanna Theatre at Playhouse Square in Cleveland, Ohio. Director Sara Bruner has given the green light for the actors to expand even the tiniest of roles to epic proportions. Truly in this work there are no small parts.
Beautiful and demure Bianca (Mandie Jenson*) of the house Minola finds herself with three suitors; the old and gamby legged Gremio (Lynn Robert Berg*), the opportunist Hortensio (Eric David Smith*) and the young and truly in love Lucentio (Taha Mandviwala*). The only problem is that Bianca’s father Baptista (Steve Pickering*) will not permit her to wed until her head-strong sister Katherine (Jessika D. Williams*) makes the trip to the alter first. Kate is described as a “she-devil” who cannot be tamed.
Enter Petruchio (Jonathan Dyrud*) and his servant Grumio (Joe Wagner*) to the city of Padua, a man of means and a bit of a rake when it comes to women. He sees Katherine as a not only a challenge but also a financial opportunity as the dowry includes land and money in large amounts. He makes his intentions known to Baptista who is only too glad to be rid of the willful daughter thus the courtship begins.
In order to win over Katherine, Petruchio uses reverse psychology by pretending that her barbs are all sweet endearments towards him. Seeing that she has no other choice as a suitor she agrees to wed. Petruchio shows up at the wedding drunk and disheveled and forces Katherine back to his home against her will.
In the meantime, the race to wed Bianca is now in earnest as the three suitors vie for her affections. A bidding war takes place with more assets bid than any of the suitors actually have. In order to cover this deception, Tranio (Maggie Kettering*), a female servant of Lucentio, convinces a passing female merchant (Jodi Dominick*) to pretend to be Vincentio the father of Lucentio in order to confirm the dowry.
Back with Kate and Petruchio, his campaign to break his new wife’s will continues as no food is good enough nor dress fine enough for her. Kate goes hungry as well as wearing the same outfit for days. Problems arrive when the real Vincentio (David Anthony Smith*) arrives in town and all the masquerades begin to unravel.
With this show, it is all in the details. Jonathan Dyrud is perfect as Petruchio with his dry wit and accepting nature. Jessika D. Williams is a firebrand as Katherine asking no quarter and taking no prisoners. The real stars of the show are Joe Wegner as Grumio whose athletic antics brought the house down with laughter, Jodi Dominick as the merchant/Vincentio with her “naw joussy” (New Jersey) voice drawing laughs with each line she spoke, Maggie Kettering as Tranio whose instant transformation of a bustle into a cod piece brought down the house. Lastly, there was Lynn Robert Berg as Gremio with his Pythonish silly walk that had people rolling in the aisles every time he cantered about the stage.
The stage design is a repeat of the Hamlet set of the Globe Theater with on stage seating that the actors took full liberties in interacting with. One of the audience members was recruited for the part of sheriff and was given a curtain call to much cheering from the delighted crowd.
With its broad humor and relativity easy to understand “Middle English Light”, this newest rendition of Shakespeare’s comedy classic is a perfect introduction of the Bard for the younger set.
High jinxes, disguises and impersonations abound in this wonderful rendition where all the comedy stops are pulled for laughs. This is a rollicking depiction that is laugh out loud funny and one that will help you forget the weather for a few hours. This is must see theater that will bring cheer to the entire family.
The Great Lakes Theater production of Taming of the Shrew will be on stage in the Hanna Theatre at Playhouse Square through April 14, 2019. Tickets may be purchased online at www.greatlakestheater.org, by phone by calling (216) 241-6000 or by stopping by the Playhouse Square Box Office located in the outer lobby of the State Theatre.