The Taming of the Shrew 1996

Performed by the LSC at Fulbeck Hall, Grantham 12th July 1996

The Bishop's Old Palace, Lincoln 16th - 27th July 1996

and Bolsover Castle, Derbyshire 2nd - 3rd August 1996

Director: Rob Smith

Assistant Director: Dave Clayton

Music: Rob Smith, Liz Lucas, William Blake and Trad.

Cast

Induction

Christopher Sly: Rob Smith

Lord: Colin Brimblecombe

Huntsman: Paul Corbett

Servants: Jo Clark, Liz Lucas and Aggi Gunstone

Page: Richard Jones

Players: Simon Hollingworth, John Armitage, Karen Crow, Simon Clark and Dave Clayton.

The Taming

Baptista Minola: Liz Lucas

Katherina: Karen Crow

Petruchio: Neil Perkins

Grumio: Simon Hollingworth

Curtis: Aggi Gunstone

Tailors: Richard Jones and Paul Corbett

Bianca: Jo Clark

Gremio: Dave Clayton

Hortensio: Simon Clark

Lucentio: John Armitage

Tranio: Jo Smith

Biondello: Colin Brimblecombe

Vincentio: Richard Jones

Pedant: Paul Corbett

Widow: Aggi Gunstone

Here you get two plays for the price of one! The first: a tale of Christopher Sly, a tinker fooled into believing he is a lord, and made to watch the second: a tale of two sisters. Katherina, known throughout Padua as 'the shrew', has frightened off all her potential suitors, while Bianca, her more appealing younger sister, attracts more and more. Baptista, their mother (in the LSC version!) decrees that none shall marry Bianca until Katherine is married. Hortensio, who is in love with Bianca, asks his friend, the indomitable Petruchio, to woo and wed Katherina for money, which he agrees to do. Things then get terribly complicated, with practically every character pretending to be someone else! The play is not just a story about Kate and Petruchio. The interplay between many of the other characters is formidable and we tried to bring out the more comic aspects in our performance. I think we were successful, as the show was very well received by audiences, and certainly enjoyable to perform; we did not want it to end.

Rob Smith, Director/'Sly'.

"The imagination, enthusiasm and dedication of the LSC never ceases to amaze. I have seen the company half a dozen times and their shows get better and better, performed with such zest that two hours or so simply speed by...Those who think Shakespeare is not funny really ought to see this show."

Newark Advertiser, July 1996

"During 'Taming of the Shrew' at the Bishop's Palace, there was one night when a rather inebriated woman had been heckling all the way through the show (we have such a cultured audience!). At the end of the performance, I was supposed to come on as Christopher Sly and ask the audience whether the actors had gone. I couldn't resist saying "Have the actors gone...? What about the loony at the back?" Fortunately, it got a laugh."

Rob Smith, Director/'Sly'.