Date: Fri 26-Jun-1998

Publication: Bee

Author: DONNAM

Quick Words:

Shrew-Shakespeare-Rowayton

Full Text:

(rev "Taming of the Shrew" @Shakespeare on the Sound)

Theatre Review--

Shakespeare's Following Is A Sound One, And It's growing

(with cut)

By June April

ROWAYTON -- Watching young children mesmerized by a Shakespeare play warms the

heart and gives hope for the future of theatre. Averaging 100 youngsters each

night, plus four-fold that number for its adult audience, Shakespeare on the

Sound (SOS) has once again brought culture and family values together in an

enlightening and entertaining evening in this, its third full season.

Armed with picnicking paraphernalia, the audience can eat by the river at

Pickney Park. All have arrived, to feast, to relax and to watch The Taming of

the Shrew , the opening production for SOS's latest summer season.

As of the June 17 opening ( Taming runs through Sunday, June 28), large crowds

have come to watch William Shakespeare's bawdy look at marriage and

matchmaking. Though written in 1596, this farce still provokes laughter, and

some controversy.

The set, and lighting thereof, is luscious to look upon. Designed by Richard

Meyer, it serves to frame the actors in Renaissance-pink colored arches and

has the openness to bring the audience close into the action. Since its

inception three years ago, sets have always been a plus for SOS productions.

Intended as a farce (which translates to slapstick humor, wild improbabilities

of plot and to make mockery), director Richard Edelman has gone one step

(maybe two) beyond Shakespeare's purpose and the slapstick is

"slapschtick".... reminiscent of British "Punch and Judy" antics. Kids love

it!

Original music by Arnold Blackman beautifully accentuates the mood of this

production. In addition to the instrumental music, two solos are memorably

sung. The silvery soprano of Petra Wright (who plays Bianca, the younger and

gentler sister of Katherine, the shrew) adds to the first half; and the

mellifluous tones of handsome Miles Wallace's song opens the second half of

the show.

Most of the cast plays dual roles. Of the 16 actors, about half are members of

Actors Equity. Overall, fine performances were given by one and all.

The shining star of this show is Katherine, as portrayed by Deirdre Madigan.

Steve Ryan is well cast as the manipulative Petruccio, Katherine's husband and

mentor.

Looking very much like a young Janet Leigh, Petra Wright is spicy as the

not-so-blameless and quite flirtatious Bianca. And Kenneth Boys, as the aged

suitor Gremio, looks so much the spirit of the actor Howie Morris (from Sid

Caesar's "Show of Shows").

With an impressive background both on stage and screen, Joseph Jamrog is

perfectly cast as the calculating and overwhelmed father, Baptista Minola.

Peter McCabe, as Lucentio, is lusting after Bianca, when he's not "tutoring"

her, while his trusted servant Tranio is pretending to be Lucentio.

And when Vincentio, Lucentio's father (well spoken by actor Daniel Fitzgerald)

makes a surprise visit his son he will be... Guess! Go see what happens.

As in a number of Shakespeare's 37 plays, role reversals add to the fun, and

the confusion. Timing with tumbles, lines and various antics was admirably

pulled off by Matthew Burnett, Lew Robinson, Dennis Patella, and Mary Jane

Schaefer. Most of the thespians also play dual roles.

Actor, teacher and playwright Doug Taylor is convincingly tipsy, without being

a bad caricature of a drunken pedant. SOS artistic director Ezra Barnes is a

favorite as Hortensio playing Litio. With his pseudo-Italian accent, and

"wandering" mustache, Mr Barnes creates an elegant buffoon.

Though director Richard Edelman deleted some portions of the original play, he

decided to include the Induction. This then offers Taming of the Shrew as the

Bard intended, presenting a play within a play, a device Shakespeare used in

other plays. An actor as well as playwright, Shakespeare offered audiences

insights into the acting techniques of his time.

Audiences have remained at Pickney Park, even when it rained during some of

the performances. It speaks mightily of the actors, and the audience, that

foul weather does not deter them from the play at hand. Support for this,

Fairfield County's only professional outdoor Shakespeare Festival, continues

to grow. And if you go, which this reviewer strongly suggests, you will

understand why there is such a devoted following.

There is no cost to attend Taming of the Shrew, although donations are happily

accepted. Shows begins at 7:30 nightly until June 28; the grounds are open for

picnics after 4 pm. For further information call 851-2827. Pickney Park is on

the five Mile River on Route 136.