Taming of the Shrew

Taming of the Shrew centers on the contentious courtship between stylish Petruchio and hellish Katharina. Director Victoria Evans-Erville gives the production a retro look as afros, platform shoes and psychedelic-colored suits of the 70s rule and roar with the tunes of Aretha Franklin, Marvin Gaye and many more.

Determined to marry “wealthily then happily…” the privileged, impoverished Petruchio ignores a warning from his good friend Hortensio that Kate is a “menacing shrew” but he learns first-hand soon enough. From the start, smooth talking Petruchio is met with verbal and physical blows from the quick-witted Katharina in this classic battle of the sexes.

Another storyline of the play focuses on the courtship of Kate’s younger sister, “fair and virtuous” Bianca by several suitors. However, the women’s mother, Baptista, declares that until the volatile Kate has been woo’d and won, Bianca will remain off-limits. Bribery and a slew of identity switches are among the tools used in this classic comedy as the characters attempt to do the seemingly impossible and “tame a shrew.”

The regularly scheduled Sunday matinee on September 24 is replaced with a free performance at 4:00 PM at the Woodminster Theatre, 3300 Joaquin Miller Road, Oakland, CA.

There is no Saturday evening show on September 14.