Review by Tara O’Donnal, Front Row Reviewers
At the historic Castle Theatre in Provo, Renaissance Now Theatre & Film produces a lively, laugh-out-loud rendition of Shakespeare’s Taming of the Shrew playing through July 20th. This production, which previewed last night, July 11, features a contemporary take on the Shakespeare original, in that the “battle of the sexes” is handled with sensitivity, while preserving its rich humor and comedic characters.
The typically filled with bravado Petruchio comes to seek his fortune in the wealthy Mediterranean Italian resort town of Padua, falls for the independent-minded strong woman Katherine as he has come to woo for her wealth. The Shakespeare text lends itself nicely to a modern woman’s voice, played so clearly by Sonja Hugo, as she speaks her peace about women being treated like stereotypes. In other productions, she is portrayed as just “bad tempered.” In this production, we see instead a sympathetic, strong-minded woman who is exasperated because she is misunderstood. Nice job, Ren Now. Enter Petruchio, played by Houston Baker, who, instead of coming to conquer, comes to understand, and to play a game of returning kindness to her no matter what she dishes out in order to gain her trust. The result of this is a hilarious unfolding of events both with the lead characters and the supporting cast who are also trying to find their fortunes and their hearts.
The setting of the play on the Italian coast in the “Tavern-Wench Trattoria,” hearkens to the original Shakespeare as the waiters are decked in Renaissance dress, adding a little style to the production. As the story unfolds, we see wealthy Baptisa Minola, played with a wonderful comic touch and sincerity by Cilla Harrison, strives to find a husband for her first daughter, Kate. She must marry off her older daughter before the younger daughter (with many suitors) can be courted. Bianca, played by Elyse Jones, exposes her femme fatale in an engaging vocal performance at the top of the show. This is a great device to see who her suitors are, and shows off Jones’s cultured vocal styling, which is as rich with subtlety as her performance.
First among suitors is her fellow-employee Hortensio, who is working his way through college at the trattoria. He is followed by several other suitors for Bianca, including the wealthy Lucentio and Gremio. This production offers another twist in that Gremio (usually an old man) is played in disguise by Biondello, a college girl, who wants Bianca to star in her Senior Film, and wants to woo her away from marriage to engage her instead in a career. These three suitors create a lot of hilarious moments as they compete for the girl’s affections and attentions, disguised as her tutors to get a “private audience” with her. Hortensio, played by Hyrum Housley, is sympathetic and ingenious in his plots. Housely sings a lovely interlude to show off his musical skills. Lucentio, played by Dorsey Williams, is truly charming and romantic lead worthy, even when he’s slumming in disguise as his servant Tranio. Kat Balanzetegui plays the film student Biondello, showing off her comic skills as she is caught in the lively plotting of Lucentio and Tranio: alternately pretending to be the suitor Gremio, adeptly traversing from fun-loving college student to an older man with a heavy Italian accent.
Comic standout performances include Ethan Freestone as Tranio (Lucentio’s servant) and Liam Owens as Grumio (Pertruchio’s servant). Freestone exchanges clothes with his wealthy master and pretends to be the rich young man about town, which leads to some of the best humor in Shrew. You don’t miss any of the jokes, the nuances in the Shakespeare text with Freestone’s clarity and creativity with the multiple characters he takes on, including the elderly Vincentio (Lucentio’s father). Owens, who’s Grumio is Petruchio’s bodyguard, shows his wry wit, likewise leading to hilarity in this take on the original. Freestone, Owens, Jones, Harrison, Williams, and Balanzetegui all play the comic characters who serve Petruchio at this house. This tight nine-person cast create a wonderful ensemble with a lot of creativity in this character work.
Finally, mention goes to the leads. Hugo plays Kate with such intelligence and finesse that she is thoroughly delightful and believable as she battles a cash and commodity mentality, in her wealthy family’s association. She is exceptionally clear in the Shakespeare text, effortlessly moving through complex emotions and real change. Baker’s Petruchio is charming, but adds a depth of compassion for Kate’s plight, which makes him empathetic. The levels and subtlety in the acting creates a wonderful authenticity to the humor in the piece.
The design work of Costumer Jennifer Thornton in creating all the unique and contemporary characters (while still adding a flourish of Renaissance) is exceptional. Kudos also to Technical director Dave Biesinger for a beautifully dressed and functional set. The Shakespeare text is so clear, and understandable (again, I don’t think we missed a thing) that it points to the rich text work and vocal coaching of Steven Rimke, and his assistant, Sasha Wilkinson. Music as well as stage management expertly done by Patch Olsen, and Maisie Bunker Williams serves as Assistant Director.
Taming of the Shrew has had many (thousands?) of iterations, but Renaissance Now Theatre & Film fresh and funny adaptation is one you don’t want to miss!
Renaissance Now Theatre & Film presents The Taming of the Shrew by William Shakespeare, adapted by Kathy Curtiss.
Castle Amphitheatre, 1300 E. Center st, Provo, Utah 84604
July 12-13, 15, 18-20, 2024 at 8:00 PM (Thurs, Fri, Sat and Monday)
Tickets: $15 General Admission, $5 Senior, Student, Groups.
Contact: Kathy Curtiss 917-225-7643 or kathy.b.curtiss@gmail.com
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Note: Bring blankets or chairs to sit on. Bring water (it’s hot until the sun goes down), and bring dinner if you want.
Directions to the Castle Amphitheater–go to the end of Center Street, turn left and park and walk up the hill. There are a few parking places at the top of the hill, but they are taken quickly.
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