THE TAMING OF THE SHREW till 28 September
Shakespeare's Globe
TAMING OF THE SHREW : William Shakespeare
Tkts 020 7401 9919
Runs: 2hrs 40mins: one interval: in repertory till 28th Sept
Performance times: 7.30pm, some 2pm matinees, some Sunday perfs (time varies)
Review: Kim Durham, 22nd Aug
Immensely enjoyable production. The all-female casting makes this exuberant event theatre.
Is the Globe Theatre's Women's Company a worthwhile radical development or simply an empty politically correct gesture? This hugely enjoyable Taming of the Shrew firmly confirms the former.
There is something joyous about watching this company holding the mirror up to masculinity as they swagger about the stage, full of male competitiveness and macho bluster. As one might expect, there is plenty of irony in this telling of a tale of male domination and final female submission, as well as a fair share of ball grabbing, posturing and even a teasing hint of a hand shandy.
As chief swaggerer, Janet McTeer looks to be having a whale of a time as Petruchio, marking her presence on the stage early in the time honoured male way a new use for those Globe pillars.
While the gender-crossing performance indulges the audience by giving them the licence of irony with which to enjoy the taming of Katherine with a reasonably clear conscience, this is not a simple-minded take on bullying male chauvinism. At the first encounter between McTeer and Kathryn Hunter's imp-like shrew, Hunter is clearly fearfully attracted. Raw machismo has its appeal, but it's an appeal that needs to be tempered and come to terms with.
There are two exuberant star performances here in this central tussle. But the play, and Phyllida Lloyd's production, gives plenty of opportunity for others to shine. Meredith MacNeill, as Lucentio, has a great take on over-compensating male callowness, while Anna Healy's Baptista and Penelope Beaumont's Vicentio both carry themselves as men confident in their mastery of their little piece of the world. There is also a splendid dog Petruchio's spaniel, Troilus offstage in Shakespeare's text, but here brought vibrantly to life, by a sadly unidentifiable and uncredited cast member.
The question that is always asked of any contemporary production of The Shrew is: How does it deal with that last, difficult submission speech of Katherine's? Yes, this production does have a take on it but what it is, ah, that would be telling.
Petruchio: Janet McTeer
Katherina: Kathryn Hunter
Grumio: Linda Bassett
Vincentio: Penelope Beaumont
Tailor: Louise Bush
Gremio: Penelope Dimond
Tranio: Amanda Harris
Biondello: Liza Hayden
Baptista: Anna Healy
Pedant: Liz Kettle
Lucentio: Meredith MacNeill
Curtis: Jules Melvin
Joseph: Ann Ogbomo
Bianca: Laura Rogers
Widow: Rachel Sanders
Hortensio: Yolanda Vazquez
Director: Phyllida Lloyd
Musical Director: Abigail Newman
Costume: Imogen Ross/ Jenny Tiramani
2003-08-22 14:13:08