Review: “Shrew” Isn’t Really Anything New…Boy Gets Girl/Boy Gaslights Girl…The End

Review: SHREW (aka The Taming of the Shrew) by William Shakespeare. Directed by Bobbin Ramsey. Co-adapted by Bobbin Ramsey and Gabrielle Hoyt. Scenic Design by Parmida Ziaei. Costume Design by Danielle Nieves. Lighting Design by L.B. Morse. Sound Design by Meghan Roche. Puppet Design by Annett Mateo. With Rachel Guyer-Mafune, Jasmine Joshua, Jocelyn Maher, Pilar O’Connell, Arjun Pande, Ayo Tushinde, and Melanie Godsey. Onstage at Union Arts Center (aka ACT) from October 18th through November 2nd. Tickets at https://www.unionartscenter.org/shrew/

I think some folks had the idea that Seatle Shakespeare/ACT’s current production of Shakespeare’s The Taming of the Shrew might be a modern adaptation of the 427ish year old play…after all, it was being billed with a new, shorter title: SHREW. Which kinda/sorta sounded like a shorter/newer version of the problematic “battle of the sexes” play. Well, it’s mostly not. Director Bobbin Ramsey did work with dramaturg Gabrielle Hoyt to make some changes here and there but it’s not really a whole new play at all. They did create a framing device with the actors playing the two lead roles of Petruchio and Katherina that reflects on how Shakespeare originally wrote the play. And, more from a staging perspective, there’s an ending that tries to lessen the misogyny of the original by highlighting the negativity and destruction of treating women like enslaved cattle to be tamed and herded. But, it’s mostly still just the same old Shrew…except this time they have puppets!

I’m not a fan of relaying a synopsis for old, classic plays; if you’re not familiar with the plot of The Taming of the Shrew you’re either very young or poorly educated…or, both. In a nutshell for the young and/or dumb:

It’s time for the rich father of two girls to marry them off. He has plenty of suitors for sweet younger daughter Bianca but none for opinionated mouthy older daughter Katharina and since the custom of the time dictates the older should marry first, things on the marriage front for the family are at a standstill. Fortunately, there’s a young fortune hunter eager to snag Katherina’s generous dowry so he manages to trick his way into marrying her. He then tortures her with tricks and mind games into becoming a docile wife. Meanwhile, a whole bunch of suitors are after Bianca and we have a LOT of scenes about all these suitors and their machinations. Play ends with Bianca married and Katharina tamed.

So, it’s not surprising that this play has come under increased critical scrutiny over the years with many women (and men) objecting to the “taming” of a woman. Scholars argue as to Shakespeare’s intent and how it was originally staged (“it’s all just silly fun! Tongue in cheek nonsense with all the roles played by MEN so not really THAT misogynistic!!!”) but still…it’s creepy and gross. But, the play still has great lines and bits and since it’s Shakespeare, people want to produce it and over the years there’ve been so many attempts to lessen the awfulness of it…and, mostly it doesn’t really work. Honestly, the only time where it HAS worked, for me, is with the wonderful musical, Kiss Me, Kate which isn’t exactly a direct adaptation of the play but it’s a musical about ABOUT a stage musical BASED on The Taming of the Shrew so it’s all very meta in a 1948 sort of way plus it has fantastic Cole Porter songs so it’s all in all a winning sorta adaptation.

We’re mostly music free in the Seattle Shakes/ACT version but we are blessed with some adorable local actors in a VERY small company…there’s a lot of doubling of parts which includes the rather confusing use of TWO puppets standing in for two of the characters but multiple actors voice/manipulate those puppets so it does get a bit “what/who was that?” at times.

The design elements are very strong with really great, vibrantly colored, over the top but mostly “modern” costumes designed by Danielle Nieves. Parmida Ziaei’s equally colorful set delightfully recalls beloved game shows from the 1970’s like “The Price Is Right”. The entire production of Shrew is a feast for the eyes.

Again, the cast is fine with nice work from Jocelyn Maher as the sharp tongued Katharina and Arjun Pande as the handsome scoundrel Petruchio who treats her like crap. Rachel Guyer-Mafune was a terrifically bratty Bianca and Pilar O’Connell, Ayo Tushinde, Jasmine Jordan and Melanie Godsey were a strong ensemble playing a whole slew of characters. My only main critique of the acting is the same critique I frequently give when reviewing local productions of Shakespeare…the actors tend to race through their lines so fast you can’t really understand what they’re saying. I’ve long suspected it’s Shakespeare Phobia; the terror of having to perform Shakespeare results in fast talking actors so they get through it faster, like gulping down scary tasting medicine as quickly as you can.

I don’t think this production of The Taming of the Shrew has solved the problems of staging a painfully cruel work but it makes a good effort at it aided by a charming cast and a colorful design. But, I still prefer Kiss Me, Kate.