Taming of the Shrew

Bard Fest finale: Nothing ‘Tame’ about it

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By John Lyle Belden

Before hanging up the Elizabethan-era pantaloons, Indy Bard Fest wraps its final season with the notoriously in-your-face comedy, William Shakespeare’s “The Taming of the Shrew.”

Director Dana Lesh of Improbable Fiction Theatre Company gives the Bard full voice in this production, leaving in some scenes that other adaptations might cut, giving the intertwined plots a more complex yet complete feel. She also has our cast lean in on the fact that, apart from its bizarre romance and characters’ abuses, this is a comedy! Broad slapstick and sharp comic timing abound throughout, with a troupe that holds nothing back.

Angie Dill is a human hurricane as Katherine, our title character. Meanwhile Thomas Sebald, with that rare knack to play a handsome romantic lead like a wolverine on double-espressos, is the perfect wild-eyed match for her as persistent suitor Petruchio. The post-intermission psychological torture is worthy of discussion after the show, whether it ends in total domination or perhaps a means to channel cruel personalities without getting into a murder plot like many other Shakespeare plays. Dill adds to the mystery by not being entirely mean, and showing Kate keeping her wits about her, even when at their end.

The added complexity gives us a full picture of the main alternate storyline, the wooing of younger sister Bianca (Tailynn Downing). This has its own twists involving rival suitors: clever Lucentio (Andrew Daniels), dowry-minded Hortensio (Josh Gibson), and elderly Gremio (Ryan Shelton). For further complication, as Lucentio dons a disguise, he has his servant Tranio (Ben Elliot) pretend to be him. Also, they find a stranger (Thomas Smith) to pretend to be Lucentio’s father Vincentio (Jeff Bick), who will, of course, also show up. All this happens in the house of Baptista (Daniel Shock), who just wants his daughters to be wed and happy.

Contributing to this hilarious mess are Damik Lalioff as Petruchio’s longsuffering manservant, as well as Nalani Huntington, Cathie Morgan, and Kellyn Merrell, in various roles.

Concluding a Shakespeare festival with a comedy that ends not with a wedding, but a scolding? Consider it Bard Fest’s mic drop. Enjoy the madness while you can; performances are Friday through Sunday at the Mud Creek Players “Barn,” 9740 E. 86th Street, Indianapolis. Get tickets and info at indybardfest.com.

We thank producer Glenn L. Dobbs for having us along on this final ride.

Bardfest: The wild woman vs. the wacky womanizer — with music

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By Wendy Carson

The biggest complaint I have heard from people, regarding Shakespeare’s plays, is trouble following the plot due to the antiquated language. In her Bardfest production of “Taming of the Shrew,” Catalyst Repertory founder and play director/adapter Casey Ross has tackled this issue with the periodic inclusion of pop songs to assist the viewer in comprehending the message of the narrative. Being that the story is fairly well known, this style just makes a fun show even more enjoyable.

For those of you who don’t know the plot: Younger sister Bianca can’t marry until older sister Katherine does. Katherine has no intention to marry anyone. Their father is wealthy and offers a large dowry to whomever can take Katherine off his hands. Cash-strapped playboy Petruchio takes the challenge and not only ends up changing Katherine’s ways, but they both fall in love in the process. There’s also the sub-plot of various suitors trying to secure Bianca’s love.

The setting of this interpretation is a Vegas-style resort casino in the 1970s, with the daughters being cocktail waitresses, their father the owner, and Petruchio a traveling singer looking for a place to earn some money before his debt collectors catch up with him.

Hannah Elizabeth Boswell as the fiery Katherine (or Kate) is a sassy bundle of empowerment, while Davey Pelsue’s Petruchio boldly becomes every bit the hilariously lusty womanizer that the character suggests.

Abby Gilster’s delicate take on Bianca shows the character’s sly knowledge of her situation that is often overlooked in many productions. Bradford Reilly and Robert Webster Jr. as her two suitors (Lucentio and Hortensio), in disguise as tutors, bring a delightful comic desperation in their attempts to secure time with their desired.

Audrey Stonerock adds to the fun as the hottest “Widow” in the club, and Donovan Whitney is at his scene-stealing best as Tranio, a servant pretending to be the rich man while his master plays a humble tutor (see above). The proud – and relieved, when Kate is wed – papa is a charming Godfather-light performance by Tony Armstrong.

All in all, this is a rollickingly great production of a hilarious show. One note though, as we have mentioned previously, this show is not for all ages. Consider it PG-13 at least, though worldly kids might learn a new appreciation for Shakespeare if they see it. Also, bring a few dollars to tip your waitresses and maybe tuck into the clothes of some of the performers.

Performances are Friday, Saturday and Sunday (Oct. 27-29) at the IndyFringe Theatre, 719 E. St. Clair. Find more information at www.indyfringe.org.