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Title page of the First Folio.
o one knows the exact date Shakespeare wrote
The Taming of the Shrew, however, evidence
exists to suggest that it is one of Shakespeare's
earliest comedies. Experts date is about the mid
1580’s or early 1590’s.
The Taming of the Shrew, however, evidence
exists to suggest that it is one of Shakespeare's
earliest comedies. Experts date is about the mid
1580’s or early 1590’s.
Shakespeare Miami returns in January 2010 with The Taming of the Shrew |
Bezil Evoy and Merlin Gutieriez as Katherina
Minola and Petruchio in Shakespeare
Miami's 2005 production of The Taming of
the Shrew.
About the “Taming.”
In Shakespeare’s day, men had
cuckoldry on the brain; (cuckoldry =
having a wife cheat on him or be
publically domineering.) Petruchio’s
outlandish garb in the wedding scene
in Act IV, scene 1, and his resulting
behavior at the reception, lead modern
audiences to believe that he has gone
quite mad. Elizabethan audiences
would have understood that Petruchio
was worried that wedding a
headstrong and domineering bride
could lead him down the path to
cuckoldry; turning him into an object of
pity and ridicule.
Minola and Petruchio in Shakespeare
Miami's 2005 production of The Taming of
the Shrew.
About the “Taming.”
In Shakespeare’s day, men had
cuckoldry on the brain; (cuckoldry =
having a wife cheat on him or be
publically domineering.) Petruchio’s
outlandish garb in the wedding scene
in Act IV, scene 1, and his resulting
behavior at the reception, lead modern
audiences to believe that he has gone
quite mad. Elizabethan audiences
would have understood that Petruchio
was worried that wedding a
headstrong and domineering bride
could lead him down the path to
cuckoldry; turning him into an object of
pity and ridicule.
N
Audiences at the time would have
applauded Petruchio’s tactics. In
Elizabethan times the most grievous
affront to a man’s pride was to be
perceived as having an unruly wife.
Records show that, men who couldn't’t
control their wives were punished with
public humiliation. Petruchio’s garb in Act
IV., sc. 1 reflects some aspects of the
punishment inflicted on a cuckold: being
publicly paraded through town in
ridiculous garb on a spavined horse.
Petruchio’s pre-nuptial self punishment
was considered hilarious to Elizabethans
who were in on the joke.
opies of religious sermons from this
time suggest that Petruchio went easy on
the taming of his wife. A contemporary
play, A Merry Jest of a Shrew and Curst
Wife, Lapped in Morel’s Skin, tells the tale
of an unruly wife “tamed” by being
whipped with switches and then wrapped
in the freshly salted skin of her husband’s
plow-horse.
applauded Petruchio’s tactics. In
Elizabethan times the most grievous
affront to a man’s pride was to be
perceived as having an unruly wife.
Records show that, men who couldn't’t
control their wives were punished with
public humiliation. Petruchio’s garb in Act
IV., sc. 1 reflects some aspects of the
punishment inflicted on a cuckold: being
publicly paraded through town in
ridiculous garb on a spavined horse.
Petruchio’s pre-nuptial self punishment
was considered hilarious to Elizabethans
who were in on the joke.
opies of religious sermons from this
time suggest that Petruchio went easy on
the taming of his wife. A contemporary
play, A Merry Jest of a Shrew and Curst
Wife, Lapped in Morel’s Skin, tells the tale
of an unruly wife “tamed” by being
whipped with switches and then wrapped
in the freshly salted skin of her husband’s
plow-horse.
A Problem Play?
problem arises in modern productions: How
does the director keep Shakespeare’s words
and sentiments intact while imparting perhaps a
modern sensibility into the play? How can a
modern woman watch the play without cringing
at the misogyny in the last scene where
Katharina totally capitulates her will to her
husband’s in public by prostrating herself at his
feet and symbolically placing her hand beneath
his boot?
Shakespeare’s plays have resonated with
theatre-goers for over 400 years. Each director
brings something fresh to the production and
each generation looks at it through the lens of
their customs, politics and popular tastes of the
times. Each generation’s directors have the
delicious challenge of taking a 400 year old tale
and making it funny, fresh and germane to their
audiences.
does the director keep Shakespeare’s words
and sentiments intact while imparting perhaps a
modern sensibility into the play? How can a
modern woman watch the play without cringing
at the misogyny in the last scene where
Katharina totally capitulates her will to her
husband’s in public by prostrating herself at his
feet and symbolically placing her hand beneath
his boot?
Shakespeare’s plays have resonated with
theatre-goers for over 400 years. Each director
brings something fresh to the production and
each generation looks at it through the lens of
their customs, politics and popular tastes of the
times. Each generation’s directors have the
delicious challenge of taking a 400 year old tale
and making it funny, fresh and germane to their
audiences.
Problems for a Modern Audience?
| A Note from the Director |
hakespeare's comedies are over 400 years old,
I have read them countless times, directed them
and still never tire of the witty brilliance of Kate and
Petruchio or Beatrice and Benedick. They never
grow stale and still make me laugh.
I have read them countless times, directed them
and still never tire of the witty brilliance of Kate and
Petruchio or Beatrice and Benedick. They never
grow stale and still make me laugh.
S
A
C
We'll see you in January!
Colleen Stovall
Colleen Stovall