Fire and spirit in 1950s setting of The Taming of the Shrew

Evolution Theatre has put its own spin on one of Shakespeare’s most controversial plays, The Taming of the Shrew.

The “shrew” of the story is Katherina (Kate), the wilful and obstinate eldest daughter of Baptista Minola, played here by Fraser Grout. Baptista refuses to let his younger daughter Bianca (Charlie Haskell) wed any of her suitors, unless Katherina (Phillippa Sherry) also marries.

The intricate comic plot – full of deception and disguise – revolves around competition between Hortensio, Gremio and Lucentio to win Bianca’s hand in marriage.

But at its centre are the attempts by one man, Petruchio, to tame the wild Katherina, and turn her into an obedient and doting wife. It is his apparent success in doing so that lies at the heart of the play’s controversy.

Director Dinna Myers has set this production in the 1950s and it moves along at quite a pace with a clever stage set that takes us fluidly from scene to scene.

Sporting a black leather jacket, white T-shirt and jeans, a Fonzie-like Petruchio is played by Brent Charles Forge whose stage experience shines through. By means of physical coercion, flattery, and trickery, the cocky Petruchio manages to force Kate into outward submission.

It emphasises the “economic” aspects of marriage with the controlling father selling his daughter to the highest bidder. While Petruchio is first attracted to Kate because of her father’s fortune, he quickly finds he has met his match in the fiery and spirited bride-to-be.

In a bid to win Bianca’s love Lucentio swaps his identity with his manservant Tranio played confidently by Jo Noble and impersonates a tutor and scholar to get to know his unsuspecting love interest.

This deception unravels magnificently in the second half.

The ensemble cast is made up of actors of varying experience including teens Esme and Layla Raggett and Emma Ruelens. We also see a few of the cast tackle the bard for the first time — Charlie Haskell as Bianca, Matt Barratt as Lucentio and Helen McAneney as Biondello.

Dinna Myers lived and breathed Shakespeare for 17 years in a previous life, when she founded the Silicon Valley Shakespeare company in the US. She is interested in the debate around the relevance of Shakespeare in the 21st century. By bringing this play to a Gisborne audience we can all make up our minds whether Shakespeare still has its place in modern times.

But more importantly we can enjoy a night of high comedy and spirited entertainment.