The cast of Bard Crawl: The Taming of the Shrew. Photo Credit: Rusty Rutherford
The Taming of the Shrew Synopsis
Christopher Sly, a drunk English tinker 86’d from the local tavern, passes out in the street and is subjected to an elaborate prank by a local lord, who convinces Sly he is a wealthy nobleman who has finally recovered from years of madness. The lord hires an acting troupe to perform for Sly: the play-within-a-play, set in Italy, is The Taming of the Shrew.
Lucentio arrives in Padua with his servants Tranio and Biondello to attend university. He immediately abandons this plan when he sees Bianca, younger daughter of the wealthy Baptista Minola. Bianca is already being courted by two suitors, Gremio and Hortensio, but Baptista has forbidden Bianca from marrying until her “shrewish” older sister Katherine finds a husband. Lucentio disguises himself as a Latin tutor to covertly woo Bianca; Tranio then disguises himself as Lucentio to win Baptista’s favor.
Hortensio comes up with a similar plan and enlists the aid of Petruchio, who has come to Padua in search of a wealthy wife. Hortensio tells Petruchio about Katherine’s sharp personality and massive dowry, and agrees to introduce him to Baptista if Petruchio will then introduce (the disguised) Hortensio as a music teacher so he can gain access to Bianca.
At the Minola home, Katherine confronts Bianca about which suitor will win her favor. The two quarrel until all the suitors arrive: Gremio, Lucentio (as “Cambio” the Latin teacher), Hortensio (as “Litio” the music teacher), Tranio (as Lucentio)—and Petruchio, who declares his intent to marry Katherine. Katherine and Petruchio engage in a spirited battle of wits, ending with Petruchio proclaiming that Katherine has agreed to marry him.
Katie Farmin and Noe Field-Perkins. Photo Credit: Rusty Rutherford
On the day of the wedding, Katherine fears she has been abandoned at the altar until Petruchio shows up late wearing a ridiculous outfit. After the ceremony, Petruchio announces that he will not stay for the reception and whisks Katherine away to his country estate. There, he deprives her of food and sleep for several days, and insists that his food, beds, finery, and even the dress he commissioned are not good enough for her.
In Padua, Lucentio reveals his identity to Bianca and wins her heart. Hortensio admits defeat and decides to marry a wealthy widow. Tranio (as Lucentio) promises Baptista that he will gain a massive inheritance from his father; Baptista agrees to let him marry Bianca once his father personally confirms this. Tranio tricks an old man into playing the father, and while he is negotiating with Baptista, Bianca sneaks out and elopes with the real Lucentio.
Clockwise from far left: Kane Distler, Evening Star Barron, Andy Gustke, Joanna Furgal, Josh Browner, Ana Rios. Photo Credit: Rusty Rutherford
On the road back to Padua, Petruchio makes outlandish claims until Katherine agrees that anything he says must be true. Also bound for Padua is Lucentio’s real father, Vincentio, who arrives to find an old man claiming to be him and Tranio disguised as his son. After much confusion, Bianca and Lucentio admit they were already married in secret, and the fathers finally approve the marriage.
At the wedding feast, the grooms (Lucentio, Hortensio, and Petruchio) place bets to see whose wife is the most loyal by sending for them all at once. Bianca and the widow refuse, but Katherine chooses to come and delivers a passionate speech about a wife’s duties to her husband. The men congratulate Petruchio on his successful “taming,” and Katherine and Petruchio happily retire to bed.
Amelia Ampuero and Mikie Beatty. Photo Credit: Rusty Rutherford