William Shakepeare put his fingers on the manners and morals, the follies and foibles, of his 17th-century audience, and those fingers remain in place today. Whether it's a lust for power, or a lust for gold, or a lust for sex, Shakespeare wrote about it, and the plots are still valid.
And he took on the War Between the Sexes, especially in "The Taming of the Shrew," which opened the annual free Shakespeare in the Park festival for 2011. It began amid the raindrops last night at Shakespeare Glen in Forest Park, and continues through June 19. Performances are at 8 p.m. nightly, except Tuesday. Pre-show rain delayed the first pitch — oops, the first speech — a little while and a few minutes later there was a wait of almost an hour. Once the rain stopped, however, it remained stopped. The fact is that you just don't interrupt Shakespeare more than once.
"Shrew" is a comedy, but its view of women, and their treatment by men, even more than 400 years ago, makes the hackles rise. Direrctor Sean Graney, setting the play in the 1950s, with music of the period offering some delightful moments, lets Shakespeare tell the stories of Kate and Bianca, and of Petruchio's often-harsh methods of convincing Kate (or breaking her will) to become subservient. There are times when it isn't very pleasant. Even Shakespeare's use of a play within a play was a method of distancing the audience from Petruchio's actions. After all, if it happens in a play, it can't be real, can it? There are many enjoyable moments in Shakespeare Glen, but it wasn't totally successful.
Paul Hurley, whose program biography indicates a great deal of Shakespeare experience for a young actor, is a splendid Petruchio, handling the physical demands stylishly. And there are many physical demands involving stage-right and stage-left areas that stretch beyond the usual performance boundaries. It appeared that the playing area was larger than the Muny stage, and that's going some. Hurley is a commanding presence. He also has a rogueish air as he admits he has come "to wive it wealthily in Padua," as Cole Porter wrote in "Kiss Me, Kate," a glorious musical that will offer a different perspective and light up the Muny June 27-July 3.
There also was delightful work from Will Shaw as Lucentio, who wins Bianca, and from Steve Isom as Baptista, father to Kate and Bianca, and owner of the wonderfully garish ranch house, right from the period but more suited to be in Malibu than in Padua. High marks also to Gary Glasgow as Gremio, loser of the race for Bianca; Karl Gregory as Grumio, servant to Petruchio; Kurt Ehrmann in three comic roles, all nifty; and the ensemble of Justin Leibrecht, Laura Sexauer and Peter Winfrey, who seemed to be everywhere, singing, acting, dancing and in different costume every time they appeared. They brought a noticeable brightness to the evening.
On the other hand, I found little to admire in the rich, spoiled sisters, Annie Worden as Kate and Megan M. Storti as Bianca. Neither struck a spark, and a tussle over stuffed toys made then appear as pre-teens, or even Mouseketeers. Maybe this was the way Graney wanted them, but Kate should be a lot more of a self-assured, confident, strong woman than she showed, and Storti was a cipher. Porter's lyric says, "I would gladly give up coffee for Sanka, even Sanka, Bianca, for you." Not the way Storti played her.
Tech credits were strong. Scott C. Neale's scenic design was a winner; the delightfully garish house a perfect setting, along with a tail-finned Cadillac in the car port, a guest house at stage right and an Airstream trailer at stage left. Then audience was an immediate believer. Same for Alison Siple's costumes, with colors as garish as the house and memories of the era bringing smiles. Ellen Isom did the limited choreography, again causing good memories, and Robin Weatherall added spot-on sound design.
Shakespeare in Forest Park has become an ingrained part of the St. Louis summer in its 10-year history, and even with a few flaws, the show is worth a visit. And you can't beat the price!
The Taming of the Shrew, aShakespeare Festival St. Louis production, continues at the Shakespeare Glen in Forest Park through June 19, every night except Tuesday
—Joe