I recently posted on facebook about my feelings on "Taming of the Shrew." I received a decent amount of replies and questioning. So, of course my thought was, "I'll write a blog!!!" Here we go!
The post read: "Look. I hate being this person. But after seeing the show, I must state that my opinion of 'Taming of the Shrew' has not changed. It is a sexist play. Feel free to argue on my wall, but no name calling please."
Alright, I'm guilty. This post is a bit too simplistic. And that is part of the perils of status updates that are supposed to be meaningful. (Oh facebook.) I don't think the entire play is sexist. (Well, I do. But not anymore sexist than "The Little Mermaid.")
The post read: "Look. I hate being this person. But after seeing the show, I must state that my opinion of 'Taming of the Shrew' has not changed. It is a sexist play. Feel free to argue on my wall, but no name calling please."
Alright, I'm guilty. This post is a bit too simplistic. And that is part of the perils of status updates that are supposed to be meaningful. (Oh facebook.) I don't think the entire play is sexist. (Well, I do. But not anymore sexist than "The Little Mermaid.")
It is really the last 20ish minutes that put it over the edge for me. Most of the play is quite funny and I laughed A LOT. The best part of the production I just saw at the Globe was the actor playing Gremio. Michael Bertenshaw (for that is his name) has incredible comedic timing and a dead pan delivery that had me laughing right on cue. This Gremio was a perfect foil for Petruchio, who's Gaston-esque portrayal was just what the part ordered. As I am not Ben Brantley, I won't do a full on show review.
After a great deal of talking it through and thinking it over I have decided that the play is set in a sexist society, but may not inherently be sexist. Kate is a miserable human being at the top of the play, I get it. But we don't ever get a reason for it. And as far as every man in the play is concerned, the cause is not the problem. She simply needs to be fixed. Enter Petruchio the jerk who is ready to marry a "Shrew" just for the dowry he will get out of it. He proceeds to forcibly marry her and then starve her of food and "affection." (ie: sex)
She is finally relieved of her suffering when she agrees that if Petruchio says the sun is the moon than that is right and visa versa.
"But sun it is not, when you say it is not;
And the moon changes even as your mind."
When the man says something, the woman agrees. Immediately, after this concession, she is a doey-eyed school girl that is willing to do anything for Petruchio. The final speech is what really gets me though..."Thy husband is thy lord, thy life, thy keeper," It isn't just the text. It is that Kate has been stripped of who she is. She went from a strong willed (albeit miserable) woman to a submissive, cow-towing wife.
She is finally relieved of her suffering when she agrees that if Petruchio says the sun is the moon than that is right and visa versa.
"But sun it is not, when you say it is not;
And the moon changes even as your mind."
When the man says something, the woman agrees. Immediately, after this concession, she is a doey-eyed school girl that is willing to do anything for Petruchio. The final speech is what really gets me though..."Thy husband is thy lord, thy life, thy keeper," It isn't just the text. It is that Kate has been stripped of who she is. She went from a strong willed (albeit miserable) woman to a submissive, cow-towing wife.
Now for my own counter argument!
The last speech should be performed tongue and cheek. It is the only way to show that Kate has retained some of who she is. I also believe that Petruchio and Kate should be immediately attracted to each other. First sight kinda stuff. If the audience knows from the beginning that Kate wants to be with Petruchio but can't get past her self-imposed guards, then we would feel for her and want her to overcome that. Petruchio becomes a hero. It is a great thing to save someone from herself. With these "fixes," the play becomes no worse than "Beauty and the Beast" in reverse (if Belle owned the castle). .
The last speech should be performed tongue and cheek. It is the only way to show that Kate has retained some of who she is. I also believe that Petruchio and Kate should be immediately attracted to each other. First sight kinda stuff. If the audience knows from the beginning that Kate wants to be with Petruchio but can't get past her self-imposed guards, then we would feel for her and want her to overcome that. Petruchio becomes a hero. It is a great thing to save someone from herself. With these "fixes," the play becomes no worse than "Beauty and the Beast" in reverse (if Belle owned the castle). .
The audience needs to know that Kate is playing Petruchio's game because it is a way for her to maintain herself but get along in society. Do I agree that withholding food and love is the right way to go about this? No. But, it is a comedy after all.
So there- I have argued with myself. The final verdict is that I believe the play can be about more than gender roles. I just haven't seen it that way yet. The production at the Globe had a great start, but fell short during the last 20 minutes. I'll let you know if I see a production that I feel succeeds.
Also. I want to play Kate.
So there- I have argued with myself. The final verdict is that I believe the play can be about more than gender roles. I just haven't seen it that way yet. The production at the Globe had a great start, but fell short during the last 20 minutes. I'll let you know if I see a production that I feel succeeds.
Also. I want to play Kate.