The Oshkosh West Index - Rebel Alliance brings Shakespeare to life with Shrewish good time

Volume 106, Issue 5

Online Features

Rebel Alliance brings Shakespeare to life with Shrewish good time

By Shannon McInnis
posted February 23, 2010

"This is the way to kill a wife with kindness." William Shakespeare's The Taming of the Shrew has proven a daunting challenge for theater troupes throughout the ages. One part misogyny added to two parts satire, the stinging lines of courtship gone amok can tend to rub audiences the wrong way in this wickedly sharp comedy. The Rebel Alliance Theater gladly took up this challenge, however, to the good fortune of all in attendance on the opening night of Thursday, February 18. A group of West sophomores from Mrs. Jennifer Anderson's English class set off on an epic pilgrimage to the distant Omro Wedding Chapel in order to witness this spectacle as an enrichment activity after finishing the play as a class. Upon their arrival, audience members were met with a cozy and extremely intimate make-shift theatre environment consisting of two rows of chairs lining the middle of the chapel, an arrangement which constituted the actors' stage. Composed of roughly 16 performers, what the Alliance cast lacked in numbers, they compensated for with energy and passion.

Shrew opens with an induction framework as a drunkard (Sly) passes out on a city street, only to be discovered by a wealthy man who decides to have a bit of fun at the man's expense. When the mysterious drunken man awakens, dressed in fine robes and ensconced in finery, his wealthy "benefactor" and all of his servants bow to him and address him as their master. Prolonging this cruel joke, they manage to convince the man that he has endured a deep sleep for the past 15 years and has finally awoken to his proper life as a wealthy lord. Sly takes to his newfound position like a fish to the proverbial waters, agreeing to observe a performance about lovers and the taming of a "shrew".

Nearly the entire remainder of The Taming of the Shrew is composed of this play within a play, which follows the story of three suitors as they attempt to capture the heart (and money) of Bianca, the beautiful daughter of wealthy Baptista. Disguised, the three suitors (Pertruchio, Lucentio, and Hortensio) voyage to Padua, the home of Bianca, Bapitsta and the lord's eldest, and orneriest, daughter Katherina. Competing for "love,"the suitors remain determined and hastily line up at their door to make their case. However, they are left without much hope after Baptista makes it very clear that he believes in societal proceedings such as wealth and servitude, and he refuses to marry off Bianca until Katherina (the "shrew") is first wed.

Realizing their only hope is to ingratiate themselves as tutors to the young beauty, the suitors' usage of costume continues as Hortensio and Lucentio pose as a lute teacher and mono-lingual philosophy instructor, as a means to get close to the girls. Petruchio, lured by the promise of a hefty dowry, agrees to marry Katherina and clear a line of success for one of the lucky bachelors.

While in their disguises, Hortensio and Lucentio find themselves underhandedly competing over Bianca, after Katherina is married off against her will to Pertuchio. After much wooing and head-butting, the two love struck suitors' bickering is ended after Bianca chooses Lucentio, and Hortensio is forced to abandon his pursuits. Bianca then proceeds to marry Lucentio without the permission of her father, and it is not until Lucentio's father, Vicentio, arrives that both the marriage and Lucentio's true identity are revealed to Baptista.

Panning back to Katherina's life with Pertruchio, it is made readily apparent that she finds much misery in being commanded and resists in being utterly obedient to her new husband. This could very well be due to the fact that Kate only begrudgingly agrees to marry Pertrucio after he ceaselessly, and abrasively, persists in wooing her. Their romantic honeymoon getaway consists of Pertruchio throwing her over his shoulder and taking her away from the palace to hide her away in his home. The two reluctant lovers' relationship is continually strained through their struggle for power, as Pertruchio becomes brash and violent with both his servants and newfound wife. The climax of Kate's retaliation takes place when she attempts to escape her miserable life as a housewife. However, her dramatic escape was short lived, as it was abruptly stopped by Pertruchio's servant, Grumio.

Grumio, played by KC Connelly, proves to be one of the most charismatic characters, with an extremely animated performance. Never lacking in energy, Connelly consistently enters with a signature sprightly dance-walk, performed with an ever perky disposition, epitomized by a jubilant countenance that lights up every crevice in the spacious theatre. It was enthralling to watch this simple character hop about the stage and chuckle merrily amid the plethora of insults being thrown between other characters.

Despite Grumio dashing Katherina's plans of escape, she eventually comes to the realization that she is thoroughly in love with Pertruchio and manages to put their volatile past behind her in a gut wrenching monologue. Kari Anne Kromm, as Katherina, delivered her lines as though she were channeling the Bard.

Each character in Shrew was individually amplified by astounding acting, persistent expression, and a captivating speech pattern on the part of Rebel's troupe. Each performer's elegant delivery helped the tale come to life on stage, allowing the audience to better understand the meaning of Shakespeare's written work.

The only downside was that the live performance slightly detracted from the comprehension of the story. Readers are able to peruse the text at their own pace, while an audience is simply along for the ride. While this can prove a rigorous challenge in a live theater setting, any pains caused by the learning curve are quickly offset by the life brought by the characters, use of props, and costuming that is lacking in the limited nature of a two-dimensional text. The actors in this production possessed a complete sense of character, reacting relentlessly to each phrase, and utilizing every gesture to propel the plotline and characterization. Even the occasional dropping of props or stumbling over lines were recovered with poise, humor, and a consistency matching with the characters and situation at hand.

Overall, The Taming of the Shrew exceeded expectations and filled audience members with the utmost delight. Collectively, the lighting, authentic costumes and makeup, impressive hair, and cozy sets provided a phenomenal visual to transport audiences to the world of Shakespeare. The actors' skillful utilization of each aspect of their craft proved mesmerizing for many and combined beautifully with the setting to create a play that any artistically appreciative person would be thrilled to attend.

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