Taming of The Shrew
In the 21st century, convention has it that the war of equality between men and women has been won, just as many claim that we are entering an era of “post-racism.” If that is the case, what can be gained, if anything, from Shakespeare’s The Taming of the Shrew? In the capable hands of A Noise Within’s co-founder, Geoff Elliott, it turns out, we’ll learn plenty.
He has used a currently popular theatrical trope, setting the play in 1950s Padua. That way, we can revisit Shakespeare’s argument for a balance of power to be struck in any successful relationship. In Shrew Shakespeare suggests that really smart women like Katherine (Allegra Fulton) have the most difficulty achieving such balance, and he produces in Petruchio (Steve Weingartner) just the man to accomplish that feat.
Everyone, it seems, has a stake in Katherine’s marriage. Her beautiful sister, Bianca (Jane Noseworthy), has numerous wealthy suitors, but she cannot wed before her older sister does. A more suitable lover, Lucentio (Antonie Knoppers), wants to carry her away, but he hampered by her father, Baptista’s (Apollo Dukakis), insistence that she make a prosperous match.
The two plots, the taming of Katherine by Petruchio and the secret courtship of Bianca and Lucentio, proceed on collision course until Kate’s infamous conversion. Many a version of Shrew has foundered here (on what might be considered wife abuse), but Elliott’s interpretation makes clear that Kate’s intelligence shows her the way out of her misery. In capitulating to Petruchio, who is, after all, out to win a wager, she finds her own balance of power.
Elliott’s direction is strong and smart casting has implemented his straight-forward through-line. Rather than drop-dead, matinee idol-gorgeous protagonists, in Weingarten and Fulton he gives us two handsome, charismatic characters. He has surrounded these pros with a full complement of ANW veterans, from Dukakis to Tom Fitzpatrick as Gremio; from Mitchell Edmonds as the Pedant to the versatile William Dennis Hunt. The lovers, Noseworthy and Knoppers, are duly romantic, and they in turn are surrounded by a number of capable newcomers.
A Noise Within’s production is also smartly produced. For one of the most colorfully rendered settings that I have seen there, Kurt Boetcher, along with scenic artist Jennifer Inglis, worked his magic to produce an pizza-garden set. Resident Designer Ken Booth’s lighting was painterly, and the moon! Let’s just say it hit the eye like a big pizza pie. Not to be outdone, sound design by Patrick Hopkins, featuring the 50’s Italian hit parade – “That’s amore,” “Mambo Italiano,” “O solo mio” and more – was instrumental in perpetuating the mood. Resident costumer Soojin Lee contributed the perfect period costumes. This is one not too miss.
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Theater: A Noise Within, 234 S. Brand Blvd., Glendale 91204, CA.
Web Site: http://www.anoisewithin.org/
Tickets: (818) 240-0910 ext. 1 - Tickets from $40.00 to $44.00
Dates: through May 17, 2009