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| Betsy Mugavero and Quinn Mattfeld photo by Laura Durant |
Click here for more information on this production that runs through March 9th.
"Shakespeare's late-16th century comedy The Taming of the Shrew is clearly a popular and well-known play...Yet, in our current #metoo-focused world, is this comedy, which features misogynistic characters, a sequence in which Katherine, the shrew of the title, submits to the dominant Petruchio, and sexist attitudes toward marriage, too much for modern audiences? Fortunately, Southwest Shakespeare Company and director Amie Bjorklund prove it still works and not just as a period piece. Their production also gives the audience plenty to think about concerning gender relations and the way marriage and relationships have changed over the years....slight tweaks and shifts in focus help tame and soften the un-modern marital views and sexism while giving thought to the possibility that even in an arranged marriage love can blossom. ...With vocal sparring that is perfection and chemistry that sizzles, Quinn Mattfeld and Betsy Mugavero are very good as Petruchio and Katherine. ..The Taming of the Shrew is a play that some theatre companies shy away from presenting, due to the sexist and harsh treatment of women it presents, and also the over-plotted and convoluted courting of Bianca that features assumed and false identities to the point of being a little silly, a bit muddled, and somewhat tedious. It's also a little off-putting seeing a woman talked about as a commodity where a father can either gain financially by agreeing to wed her off to a wealthy suitor or get rid of her by offering a hefty dowry. Fortunately, with just a slight adjustment to the way the characters are portrayed and with minimal changes to the text, Southwest Shakespeare Company shows the play can still work while also being a very funny and enjoyable romantic romp that both challenges and reinforces past and current gender dynamics." -Gil Benbrook, Talkin' Broadway (click here to read the complete review)
COMING SOON -David Appleford, Valley Screen and Stage (click here to read the complete review)
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