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? Only the gold-digging Petruchio, a man as maddeningly strong-willed and perverse as Katherina herself, is equal to thetask of bullying her to the altar.
 
Shakespeare’s most outrageous comedy, The Taming of the Shrew introduces one of theatre’s great screwball double-acts, a couple hell-bent on confusing and outwitting each other right up to the play’s equivocal and controversial conclusion.

Simon Paisley Day stars as Petruchio and Samantha Spiro as Katherina.

Our Review:

5 July 2012

The Taming of the Shrew is a play that has had a checkered history. Declaimed by the emerging women's movement, it's probably even more uncomfortable for modern audiences than The Merchant of Venice. What's often forgotten, though, is that, at heart, this is a love story. Toby Frow's new production captures its madcap humour excellently while highlighting the central relationship.

It starts explosively with a drunken Christopher Sly emerging from the audience with security staff and stewards in tow – there must have been several people thinking that the play really was going to be halted. It's an arresting opening and Frow ensures that the action doesn't let up for a moment.

Simon Paisley Day is slightly too old to be playing Petruchio – although even this serves as cue for a couple of gags – but there's an almost youthful enthusiasm in his pursuit of Katherina. His wooing is even more unhinged than usual, appearing at the wedding semi-na...

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Latest User Review

David Baxter - 14 August 2012:

Unless handled carefully The Taming of the Shrew can be a most unpleasant play and the Globe's predictably ribald version can't avoid the pitfalls. Simon Paisley Day is a marvellously comic actor but that means that his Petruchio is too easy to like. Samantha Spiro should be a natural as the feisty Kate but the part seems oddly relegated and she does little more than roar like a wounded lion, particularly in the first half. The whole cast unashamedly play to the gallery and at times it is very funny indeed, if not a patch on the RSC production which toured earlier this year, but this is a Shrew which points up what a deeply misogynistic piece it can appear to be....

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