The Taming of the Shrew

         This contemporary version of the play is based in 1968 Northbridge, and the surrounds of Perth. The play opens with the whole cast in flares, minis and platform shoes doing the Hitchhiker.

         Baptista Minola (James Hagan), a rich gentleman has two daughters, the eldest a domineering, sharp-tongued and fiery tempered woman, that ‘no gentleman can tame’, is called Katherina (Anna Brockway) or Kate. The younger daughter, Bianca (Lucy Cooke), is a beautiful and much more ‘feminine' woman than her sister. Two friendly rivals, Sir Gremio (Stephen Lee) and Hortensio (Glenn Hall) are Bianca’s suitors; however, Baptista, seeing his daughters regularly becoming the prey of dowry-seeking suitors, will not let her marry until Kate is wed first. Still no one wishes to marry the ‘shrew’, Kate – so named by the local widow (Angelique Malcolm).

        Then, from the wilds of Wiluna, arrives the brash, boisterous, quick-witted, and frequently drunk, Petruchio (David Meadows) who is searching for a woman with a vast dowry. With him is his fool of a servant, Grumio (Sam Longley). On hearing of Kate, Petruchio is optimistic he can tame her into a suitably, obedient wife. Kate’s hostility toward suitors particularly distresses her father, but her anger and rudeness is a disguise for her deep-seated sense of insecurity and her jealousy towards her sister,

           The methods, which Petruchio uses to ‘tame’ Katherine, denying her food and sleep until she is willing to do anything that he wishes, would today be considered highly abusive, but then it was laudable.

           For young university student, Lucentio (Nick Candy) on seeing Bianca, it was love at first sight. He plotted with his classics instructor, Tranio (Will O’Mahoney) to wheedle his way into becoming Bianca’s tutor. Trouble starts when Lucentio’s father, a new generation Italian Australian, Vincentio (Greg McNeill) arrives to find someone else using his son’s identity.

           Who will be lucky in love? Which three couples will be married? How many brides gowns will be supplied by the very flash merchant (Jay Walsh)?

The set consisted of many doors, and the depiction of various well-known Perth architectural icons (Jake Newby) was bright and exuberant. The psychedelic costumes (Gail and Sam Pether with Raymond Omedei) of the ‘60’s were at times very amusing - did we really wear those! The music (Peter Dawson) and the short madrigal sung by the cast (Russell Rinker) added to the enjoyment.
Inventive direction by Paige Newmark filled the play with fun. The script had been very cleverly ‘rounded off’ and filled with local references, which the audience loved, but in doing so, none of the original Shakespearean message was lost. A couple of short spells verged on pantomime.
With the strong wind, trying hard to blow away the actors’ dialogue, the well-choreographed body language (Rhoda Lopez), the superb cast’s excellent diction and projection ensured that the tale was well portrayed. The pace was fast and frantic.
Great fun, one of the best ‘Shakespeares in the Park’. Try to catch it in the last few nights.