Review: 'The Taming of the Shrew' at The Gamm

Peter Sampieri takes an interesting approach in reinterpreting Shakespeare for a 21^st century audience in The Gamm's current production of The Taming of the Shrew.

While audiences think of Shakespeare as unflaggingly English, Sampieri reminds us (not subtly, either) that The Taming of the Shrew is a story about an Italian wedding. He uses Shakespeare's outline and words and sets them into what could be the FederAl Hill section of Providence, circa early-mid 1960s. It works very well.

Sara Ossana's innovative stage design helps the audience follow the story. She has created five separate spaces for actors to perform, each area representing a distinct place. There is a runway through the middle of the performance space, with the audience sitting on each side and two spaces on each side of the theater. The set-up means that everyone is going to have an obstructed view of the action at some point, but it veers pleasantly from the static, stare-straight-ahead theater experience.

In The Taming of the Shrew, Baptista (Tom Gleadow) wants to marry off his younger daughter Bianca (Jill Blevins) to one of her suitors. Gremio (Sam Babbitt) and Hortensio (Jim O'Brien) are in line to woo Bianca to the altar. The problem is that Baptista's older daughter Katharina (Jeanine Kane) needs to be married first. Katharina is so miserable that no man lasts through even the briefest courtship. Handsome Petruchio (Tony Estrella) falls in love with Katharina's dowry and is determined to break Katharina's spirit and marry her to get it.

Sampieri takes that basic outline, overlays it with the 1960s style and leaves the question of who actually gets 'tamed' pretty vague.

The large ensemble piece is well supported by the leads and the supporting cast.

Jeanine Kane gives a terrific performance in the title role of the shrewish Katharina. Kane and Estrella have believable chemistry, though this Katharina looks like she could kick Petruchio's ass.

Jill Blevins gives a spirited performance as Bianca. Josh Short plays the love-struck Lucentio with a Richie Cunningham innocence that fits right into the stylistic theme.

Sam Babbitt is tremendously funny as Gremio. Babbitt's costumes are a scream and he seems entirely comfortable playing a harmlessly dirty old man. Jim O'Brien sails through his role as Gremio's rival Hortensio with apparent ease. Steve Kidd is delightful as Lucentio's servant, Tranio.

The broad physical comedy of the play, much of it played by Casey Seymour Kim as Grumio, is very well presented and does the job of helping the audience grasp the difficult to understand language.

I have never been a fan of adding music to Shakespeare. I just don't think that Shakespeare needs any help to be clever. There is a lot of music in this production that is unnecessary fluff. It doesn't detract from the play, nor does it add anything special.

The final twist on the traditional interpretation of the play is who gets 'tamed.' The answer should be Katharina, but I bet not everyone would agree on that answer at the end of this production.

The Taming of the Shrew runs through June 15, 2008.

Regular ticket prices are $27, with discounts for seniors and students.

Tickets can be purchased by calling (401) 723-4266 or at the Gamm box office at 172 Exchange St., Pawtucket, RI. Tickets are also available online at www.arttixri.com.              

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