The Taming of the Shrew - King Edward and Queen Mary School, Lytham - 17/06/09
Lancashire's outdoor theatre season began at its very best.
Rain or Shine's versatile company revelled in a warm, still Lytham evening, a substantial and attentive audience and a delightfully leafy setting.
They produced a fast-paced, inventive and accessible interpretation of one of Shakespeare's more uncomfortable themes.
The tempestuous relationship between Petruchio and Kate – both excellently portrayed by director James Reynard and Charlotte Kingsford – is here played out largely in the midst of comically farcical scenes.
Craig Rogers, Thomas P Jordan, Nicholas Karpenko, Rob Leetham, producer Jayne Lloyd and Pippa Meekings are all adept at every type of physical comedy and the play's demands for constant disguises and changes of costume and voice suit their skills admirably.
The humour makes it a very involving experience, but, in the second half particularly, Petruchio and Kate give full weight to Shakespeare's words as the awkward question of the obedient wife is brought to the fore.
This intelligent production presents a Kate who may be dutiful, but is not lacking in independence and spirit – aptly symbolised by her fiery dance which concludes the performance.
Rain or Shine were making their 10th consecutive visit to Lytham and this was certainly a five-star production and performance – a treat in store for the other 63 outdoor venues on their countrywide summer tour.
Julian Wilde
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Thursday 09 February 2012
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