‘The Taming Of The Shrew’ Brings

Comedy And Romance To NHS

By Tanjua Damon

If you missed the Newtown High School Drama Club’s performance of Shakespeare’s The Taming of the Shrew, then you missed an entertaining comedy that brought much laughter throughout the performance. There were performances both Friday and Saturday last week.

The student-produced play took a little over two hours, but the actors kept the play packed with comical lines and facial expressions. There was never left a dull moment for the audience. The theater was set up so the audience sat on the stage and the actors performed near the front of the stage.

The Taming of the Shrew is a comedy set in the 1600s in Italy. The story centers on two sisters, both available for marriage, caught in a Shakespearean swirl of romance. The older sister, headstrong and intimidating to men, must marry first according to custom. Meanwhile, two gentlemen try to win the love of the younger sister, who may not be exactly what she seems. Some may know the Shakespearean story from its Broadway incarnation Kiss Me Kate.

The leads in the production, Travis Finlayson as Petruchio and Beth English as Katherina, were exceptional. The two punched funny lines back and forth to each other throughout the performance. Kate, the shrew of the play, was not an easy catch for Petruchio. Of course Petruchio’s chauvinist ways would not last very long with women today. But Travis and Beth performed the two characters with ease and brought laughter throughout the performance – Travis with his “wooing dance” and Beth with her unforgettable facial expressions.

The set for the production, designed by Erin Thomas, technical director, was well done and helped elevate the play’s overall effectiveness for the audience. The earthtone coloring added texture to the play’s background. The balcony and lighting brought life to the set.

Deirdre Dougherty as Bianca and Jeff Corbeil as Lucentio also performed well. Bianca is Kate’s lovable sister and the object of Kate’s jealousy. But Kate must be married before Bianca can. Lucentio trades places with his servant Tranio, played by Chris Miller, so that he can be closer to Bianca since he has fallen in love with her. Hortensio, played by Todd Winner, also thinks he loves Bianca, but later realizes that she is not the woman he thought her to be and not the one he wants to be with.

Brett Boles as Grumio, servant to Petruchio, was amazing. He moved vibrantly and energetically throughout the play. He brought great life to the performance in his green Peter Pan-like costume. Brett added great flavor to the already fine acting of the rest of the cast.

The entire cast deserved, and got, a standing ovation for their hard work and terrific performance provided to the Newtown community. Other cast members included Andrew Beck as Baptista/Minola, Saurav Chatterjee as Gremio, Michelle Black as Biondello, Pat Curran as Vincentio, James Dellasala as Merchant/Pedant, Leah Blewette as Widow, Janine Pixley as Tailor, Emeline Walker as Haberdasher, Christine Polchowski as Curtis, Jackie Ruiz as Patricia, Anna Bingaman as Natalie, Lauren Parrish as Josephine, Beth Leety as Philippa, and Sophie Daubeny as Nicole.

To the crew who spent many long evenings ensuring the completion of the set, a job well done. The crew included Erin Thomas, Donald Rowe, Jeremy Barczak, Dan Amodeo, Brian Rowe, Dan Henry, Dan Amodeo, Katie Mayer, Sasha Mastrocinque, Kate Donahue, Caitlin McQuatite, Bill Schamalz, James Kaechele, Josh Tamarkin, Mary Kate Addyman, Pamela Lynn Henry, Dan Henry, John Gill, John Polchowski, Chris Timmel, Katie Mackay, and Adam Berlingeri.