Word: lucentio
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...space has since been rebuilt as a theatre—with lighting, dressing rooms, a space for the audience, and a set based on the oft-overlooked induction to “The Taming of the Shrew.” The play itself deals with the unrealizable love of Lucentio for Bianca and Petruchio’s attempts to tame the obstinate object of his affection, Katherine, the titular “shrew.” The induction, though, establishes the story as a play within a play; a drunkard is subjected to a cruel trick that convinces...
...plot, like most of Shakespeare's comedies, revolves around a double courtship. The two daughters of the rich Baptista, Katherina and Bianca, are up for grabs; but the beautiful Bianca cannot marry until her sharp-tongued older sister is suitably bethrothed. The three suitors for Bianca's hand, Lucentio, Gremio and Hortensio, stake the gold-digging fool Petruchio into marrying Katherina and clearing the path to wed Bianca. While Petruchio engages in verbal duels with Kate, Lucentio and Hortensio disguise themselves and woo Bianca in secret...
...Baptista, the rich landowner, becomes the baggy pants petty bourgeois proprietor of the theatre. Played by Jim Kaufman, he is the very model of an alcoholic crud. Hortensio as done by director McDonough becomes a pseudo Mafioso a proto-Don Corleone complete with big blue suit and loud tie, Lucentio (Kevin Fennessy) and Bianca (Marianne Adams) are the very models of squeaky clean 30s youth...
There are some moment's when the conceits and the text fall into sync. The little softshoe Latin lesson the disguised Lucentio imparts upon the eager Bianca is such a gem that the eyes dazzle for the next two scenes. Cue cards with handy translations of Key but obscure Shakespearean terms works so well they would be a welcome addition to very would be a welcome addition to every future production at the ART. But if the flourishes are brilliant, the total picture is murky...
...production, like a comic character, somersaults after its stumble and, standing again, brushes itself off, relatively unharmed. One reason for this is the broad comic talents of three of the actors. John Bacquie intelligently plays Gremio, Bianca's overaged suitor. Richard Price (as Lucentio's impersonating servant Tranio) effortlessly outwits better men. And John Cooper turns in a commanding performance as Grumio, Petruchio's spluttering servant. His attempt to unpeel layers and layers of clothing while telling the story of Petruchio's and Kate's trek through the snow, practically steals the production...