MARCH 25, 1994 GAY PEOPLE'S CHRONICLE
15
ENTERTAINMENT
Gracefulness, depth lifts this Shrew above the ordinary
The Taming of the Shrew Great Lakes Theatre Festival Ohio Theatre
Reviewed by Barry Daniels
Michael Breault's delightful staging of The Taming of the Shrew at the Great Lakes Theatre Festival begins in a university lecture hall and ends at a festive banquet. Breault has set the play in Padua in the 1920s and has combined the charm of Fellini's autobiographical films with the energy of a Chaplin two-reeler. It is a beautiful production to look at. John Ezell's set is a marvel of Renaissance architectural details and units that are easily moved to create the varied scenes. Vincent Scassellati's 1920s costumes are handsome. He uses a limited palette of earth colors to which he adds an occasional red or bright color for effect.
Breault's Padua is the traditional comic world of romance and high spirits. In this world older people are subject to mockery. What is striking about this production is that except for the four actors who play the traditional older roles-Joseph Costa and John Buck Jr. as the fathers, Mitchell Fields, David Rogers and Buck as the teachers, and Rogers as a prissy over-aged suitor to Bianca-the cast is very young. Breault artfully uses extras costumed as students to change the scenery and dress the stage. Leaning against columns and watching the action, or reading in the sun, they help reinforce this dominant sense of youthful-
ness.
There is a lot of clowning in the play. Breault allows his clowns to develop elaborate lazzi and effectively borrows business from silent movies, even turning one scene
change into a wildly comical chase sequence. The role of the clever servant, Tranio, is engagingly played by Spike McClure with a reedy voice and physical agility. Michael P. Connor is fine as Petruchio's dim-witted servant, Grumio. James Ludwig plays Biondello with an ingenuous charm.
Tranio oversees the action in which he assumes the role of his master Lucentio, so that Lucentio can woo Bianca, disguised as her teacher. David Atkins is the essence of puppy love in the thankless role of Lucentio. Bianca's other suitors, Gremio and Hortensio provide nice comic turns for David Rogers and James Kall. Kim Sebastien's Bianca is rather cold, but this serves as a telling contrast to what her sister, Katherina, represents in this production.
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At the center of the action in The Taming of the Shrew are, of course, Katherina and Petruchio. David Harum's Petruchio is a big man but not a brutish one. He has a genuine warmth and, finally, a gentleness that makes him very appealing. He is ably seconded by Colleen Quinn as Kate. From the first big brawl through the final kiss at the banquet, both actors portray the vitality of the characters who teach each other to love with a feeling that is much stronger and more satisfying that what the other couples in the play have.
If Breault has chosen to make education the guiding metaphor of The Taming of the Shrew, it is not the teachers of Padua who
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The Taming of the Shrew plays through April 2 at the Ohio Theatre. Performances are at 8 pm, Tuesday-Saturday, and at 1:30 pm on March 27. Tickets are $16-$28. Half price tickets are available at the box office after 5 pm day of show. To charge tickets, telephone Advantix at 241-6000.
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