The Taming of the Shrew

Synopsis

Two wealthy sisters in Padua must be married off. The modest, demure Bianca has no shortage of suitors, but who on earth will take the wild, ungovernable, ?shrewish' Katherina? Perhaps the gold-digging Petruchio, as maddeningly strong willed and perverse as Katherina herself, will be equal to the task of bullying her to the altar. Shakespeare's outrageous comedy introduces one of the theatre's great screwball double-acts, a couple hellbent on confusing and outwitting each other right up to its controversial conclusion.

Our Review:

John Campbell - 26 March 2012

The stage is one enormous bed in Lucy Bailey’s energetic RSC touring production of The Taming of the Shrew. It is urinated on, spat on and smeared with food; there are fumblings under the sheets, fights on top of them and by the end of the play we are left in no doubt that it will be the scene for many nights of fabulous passion between David Caves’ Petruchio and Lisa Dillon’s Kate. The action takes place in 1940s Italy and the director and designer Ruth Sutcliffe have created a detailed, believable world reminiscent of the films of Roberto Rossellini and Francesco Rosi. A live band playing music composed by John Eacott adds to the atmosphere.

There is enormous fun along the way, some excellent physical comedy and some good performances. Nick Holder as Christopher Sly, on stage for almost all the performance in varying degrees of undress, gets a great deal of humour out of his situation and his body. Sam Swainsbury as Hor...

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