Mate to Order

The Taming of the Shrew

by Mark Cofta

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Published: Jul 25, 2007

The Taming of the Shrew matches only The Merchant of Venice for its trickiness with modern audiences. The "shrew," of course, is Kate, reviled for her fiery independence; Petruchio arranges to marry her, taking on the challenge of "taming" her through unorthodox means. At the end, her speech about wifely duties prompts hisses from women and nervous giggles from men.

Every director and cast assailing the play attempts to make Shakespeare's apparently misogynist views — common, perhaps, circa 1600, but vile by today's standards — more palatable. Russell Treyz and the Pennsylvania Shakespeare Festival answer the call with broad humor and superb actors who bring out the best in Kate and Petruchio. (Whether Shakespeare saw these better sides, of course, is arguable.)

Philadelphia favorites Grace Gonglewski and Greg Wood play the contentious couple, an ideal pairing because Wood's natural dignity shines through Petruchio's apparent cruelty, making him a clever rascal with unorthodox methods, and Gonglewski's undeniable, unstoppable strength insists that Kate is never cowed. Her Kate isn't "tamed," but enters into a partnership — sealed not only with their famous kiss, but with a solemn handshake between equals.

If that's not enough to overcome Petruchio's insistence on wifely obedience (enforced through starvation and humiliation), Treyz wrings every possible laugh from the play with Three Stooges-inspired slapstick (fingers hooked in noses, ass-kickings, a spit-take and, of course, a man in a dress). Chris Faith (Grumio), Matt Pfeiffer (Tranio) and Andy Wertner (Biondello) steal the show as bumbling servants, and Wayne S. Turney (Gremio) and Aaron Galligan-Stierle (Hortensio) are painfully funny as inept suitors of Kate's sister, Bianca (Rachael Joffred).

Lucentio (Zack Robidas) also woos Bianca — in disguise, of course — and Jofford's insightful performance as a bratty crybaby further clarifies Kate, making her apparent sourness more understandable.

Treyz further softens the play, pleasingly, with Dana L. Kenn's colorfully painted scenery showing Padua's lush hills and Marla Jurglanis' spectacularly rustic costumes, as well as a clever prologue mirroring Shakespeare's own play-within-a-play introduction — and which, never referred to again, becomes completely irrelevant, just like the original.

Audiences may still sneer when Kate promises obedience, but the twinkle in Gonglewski's eye — and the ardent adoration from Wood's Petruchio — promises that their marriage will be as rollicking as this delightful production.

The Taming of the Shrew

Through Aug. 5
Pennsylvania Shakespeare Festival
DeSales University
2755 Station Ave.
Center Valley
610-282-9455
www.pashakespeare.org

 

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