Taming
O' the Shrew -- Spring 2008
Katherine Minola is one FOUL-tempered
filly; well known throughout Padua, TX for her scolding tongue...!!
Her sister Bianca, the beloved darling of many erstwhile
suitors for her mild demeanor and maidenly whiles, is not so demure
as she seems! But their crafty father Baptista has declared without
exception that Bianca is off-limits to any and all comers unless Kate
gets hitched first! Stalemate! The suitors’ collective chagrin
quickly turns to untrammeled hope when who should blow into Padua,
but the wily Petruchio, with tricks eleven long to tame a shrew and
her chattering tongue! Bianca also catches the eye (and heart) of
young Lucentio of Pisa, who is moved to woo her by employing the ol’
tried-and-true Shakespearean tradition of subterfuge! With the aid
of his trusty servant Tranio (and somewhat less-trusty servant Biondello),
Lucentio disguises himself to sneak into Bianca’s, er... confidence.
Petruchio’s good friend Hortensio strikes upon the same idea
as Lucentio and the two wind up vying for Bianca’s hand as cunning
schoolmasters on the inside tutoring track...!
Blustery Petruchio tries the frontal assault with
less than stellar results... With his faithful servant Grumio, he
roundly goes about applying himself to the task of winning Katherine’s
heart (and her generous dowry!). With a flurry of steadily more outrageous
antics, Petruchio weds Katherine in a grand spectacle and hauls her
off home to work his strategery. Reckon he can break her defenses?
Will she break him instead? These two well-matched wildcats head straight
for a showdown at the OK Verona Corral...
Meanwhile, Tranio plays Lucentio’s part as well-heeled
suitor and devises a plan (and a counterfeit father) to get Baptista’s
assurance for his master to marry Bianca. Unfortunately, Lucentio’s
real father arrives to spoil the best-laid plans and one too many
Vincentios spoil the stew!
In the end, with all plots revealed,
everyone is brought together for fun and celebration on Baptista’s
tab!!
