Taming of the Shrew

This tour was part of the RSC Open Stages project and the evidence of hard work and attention to detail added by Rachel and her RSC support team was evident. Set in the atmospheric grounds of Taunton Castle (The Museum of Somerset) on a warm summer evening we were transported to a 1930’s Padua through the eyes of Sly who opened the piece with confidence and a sense of fun. The (eventual) couples were well matched. Interestingly, Petruchio wooed Katherina with a modern aplomb where as Lucentio wooed Bianca using more traditional methods, as the younger suitor this was a nice touch and Bianca fell hook line and sinker. These two young performers showed understanding and composure and continued to flirt and make eyes at each other throughout the action making their romance believable. Katherina was portrayed as spiteful and difficult and Petruchio certainly had a difficult battle ahead, he was confident and comfortable in role, even in his interesting wedding garb. The supporting cast were all nicely drawn; you could imagine the fun that Tranio and Biondello must have working for Lucentio, and the interesting life of Grumio and Curtis working for Petruchio. Gremio played by a younger actor playing aged and infirm worked well as his youthful yearnings for Bianca showed that youth can be revitalised by a pretty face, a nice touch. Mother Nature was well timed as her lightening cracked just at the right moment, the audience sat for the last 10 minutes in a torrential rainstorm just to catch the final moments of Katherina’s transformation, no one ran for shelter, proof that the imagination was captured and that the story had to be concluded for one and all…..great performance.

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