Saw Taming of the Shrew with friends tonight. Was excellent. Forgot how to breathe on multiple occasions; I'd call costume design and casting a rousing success.
All Shakespeare, all the time, is how I'd like to live my little life.
The players begin a bit rockily; they're not quite as out there with the characters or clicking quite as well as I've come to expect from the Tavern, but they're good. All of my favorite actors are in this one, save Jonathan: Daniel, Matt, Andrew, J.C. I like Kate, too. I don't remember actress's names; is that sexist? Maybe...but then I don't objectify them, so I don't learn their names out of guilt like I do with the actors.
What do I say about it to begin? Hortensio and Gremio were a couple of my Tavern favorites, as well, and they begin the play vying for Bianca's hand. Tranio (Daniel) and Lucentio (Andrew) are on the stage, the first amused and the second admiring. They hatch a plan, a switching of identities, which leads them to strip on stage...(? but I am okay with this) when enters Biondello (Matt), confused all to Hades. He tries to strip, too.
No need to run down the entire plot, but Tranio's appearance as Lucentio makes me want to swear vehemently under my breath. I content myself with a muffled "FFFFFFFFRICK," but not contented at all, really, because he just keeps coming back. Lucentio's wooing of Bianca as Cambrio is distressing, to say the least; they explore together the Kama Sutra, or so it is heavily implied. Ick. Tranio is suitably horrified.
Petruchio is more mercenary and less insane than I have ever seen him played, but his first sight of Kate is the sweetest portrayal of love-strickenness. He can hardly speak whenever he looks upon her throughout the play. He loves, teases, coaxes her into his silly game of outward obedience but private, joyous peace and equality. Their happiness is the most satisfying, and his delight in her a beautiful thing to observe.
Vincentio is the Godfather. That is amusing. Baptista is persistently drunk. That is also amusing. Biondello is confused and frustrated. He is adorable, as usual. Grumio is flamboyant as his master, a strange, angry little man. I like him.
I could wish for more bromancing in this play, but in truth, the relationships are not organized that way. I enjoy it thoroughly. Happy early birthday, me.
:-)
ReplyDeleteYes.