ShakespeaRe-Told: The Taming of the Shrew (2005) - Film Review Back in 2005, the BBC decided to bring four of Shakespeare's most popular plays into the present: Two comedies and two tragedies. For now, weve both lost. We need to find a husband for her sister. All other trademarks and copyrights are the property of their respective owners. [Aloud to Hortensio] What about you, Hortensio? Each adaptation supports Taming of the Shrew significantly well. I dont think so. today's gender stereotypes. [53] In 1956, NBC's Hallmark Hall of Fame screened the first colour television adaptation, directed by George Schaefer, and starring Lilli Palmer and Maurice Evans (who also produced). "[55] Also in 1982, the play inaugurated the Channel 4 series Shakespeare Lives! "[68] In his review of the adaptation for the Financial Times, Chris Dunkley referred to this issue, calling Cleese's Petruchio "an eccentrically pragmatic social worker using the wayward client's own doubtful habits to calm her down. Were descended from the Bentivolii. "The Taming of the Shrew," the University of Indianapolis Department of Theatre's second production of the 2021-2022 season, concluded on Oct. 30. Tell me what you think: for Ive left Pisa and come to Padua, like someone who jumps out of a shallow puddle and into a lake, hoping to quench his thirst with excess. The Taming of the Shrew is one of Shakespeare's earliest comedies, and was inspired by classical Roman comedy and the Italian commedia dell'arte. Enemies to lovers is one of my all time favorite tropes, so I suppose it stands to reason that Taming of the Shrew has always been one of my favorite Shakespeare plays. copyright 2003-2023 Study.com. "[70] In this reading of the play, the production was at least partially based on Miller's own 1972 Chichester Festival stage production starring Joan Plowright and Anthony Hopkins. Pursue your logic among friends, and practice your fancy speech in casual conversation. Deliver Us From Eva Gabrielle Union and LL Cool J another modern retelling that varies from the classic tale a bit more than the others but is still a great adaptation of this play. Text Preview. The fact that Kate is in a position of power from the very start helps to solidify the fact that she will not allow herself to be treated like a servant, which was refreshing considering the original material. Thats the kind of impression it made on us. Petruchio makes an explicit analogy between his method of domesticating his wife and the methods used by falconers. Human interactions, people's ability to change and improve, and the way the human psyche works has always fascinated her. She is fantastic in this role! Your email address will not be published. in History, a M.A. When I got here, I killed a man in a fight, and I'm afraid I might have been recognized. But everywhere else, pretend Im your master Lucentio. [51] Diana E. Henderson writes "this version relentlessly reiterates conventional post-war ideas of gender difference [] the production as a whole serves to legitimatise the domestication of women. The Taming of the Shrew An Uproariously Funny Modern Adaptation, Much Ado About Nothing Film Review A Timeless Summer of Love, The 100 Best Romantic Comedies of All Time (Part One), Seven Shakespeare Adaptations Lovers of the Bard Should Check Out. Find out whats on, read our latest stories, and learn how you can get involved. "[10] However, Pickford herself was unhappy with the film, and with how Taylor had directed her. . Shakespeare's The Taming of the Shrew is one of Shakespeare's most popular and frequently performed comedies. Youre my trusty servant, reliable in every way. The production is the first of SAAC's 55th . Id be willing to be a slave to get the girl, the very sight of whom has enslaved me. So he behaves just as outrageously as she does in order to make her aware of the effect that her behaviour has on other people [] Kate needs to be made happy - she is quite clearly unhappy at the beginning of the play, and then extremely happy at the end because of what she has achieved with Petruchio's help. Today we will be looking at three of these versions today including the 1967 film version of The Taming of the Shrew starring Elizabeth Taylor and Richard Burton, a musical version entitled Kiss Me Kate made in 1953 starring Kathryn Grayson and . Lucentio and Tranio stand by]. Rufus Sewell plays Petruchio, who is looking to marry for money since he is so poor at managing his own but ends up finding the woman of his dreams in the process. Even business books teach us that one should always have ones elevator pitch at the ready. She, in turn, is taken aback by his forward approach and the fact that he is not in the least intimidated by her behaviour. [19] In 1983, John Allison directed a straight-to-video production played out on a bare Elizabethan stage modeled after the Globe Theatre. Gil Jugner has adapted 10 Things I Hate about You to further enrich and effectively transform the themes of which Shakespeare explored, although from a different approach as the context is updated to a more modern perspective helping the audience to relate and understand the concepts. Where have you been? 1 Video 9 Photos Comedy The main action of The Taming of the Shrew takes place as a play within the play, performed for the benefit of a drunken tinker, Christopher Sly. I have nothing but good things to say about this retelling! Youre not watching the play. Go inside, Bianca. Enrolling in a course lets you earn progress by passing quizzes and exams. However, after a moment, the funeral suddenly transforms into a colourful party which moves from the church through the streets as the credits for the film play. [16][18], In 1961, Sergei Kolosov directed a black and white theatrical adaptation for Mosfilm, starring Lyudmila Kasatkina and Andrei Alekseyevich Popov. Signor Baptista, why are you so against us? It is not as predictable as one would think a Shakespeare retelling would be. If you love her, youre going to have to be clever about pursuing her. Learn how your comment data is processed. I was born in Pisa, renowned for its dignified citizens. In her autobiography, she wrote she wanted to play Katherina as a ferocious woman, but Taylor told her "We don't want any of that heavy stage drama; we want the old Pickford tricks." Introduce any Shakespeare play this way. The flirting between Kate and Petruchio is adorably unique and all the more amusing for it. The earliest cinematic adaptation of the play is D.W. Griffith's eleven-minute The Taming of the Shrew, made for Biograph in 1908, starring Florence Lawrence as Katherina and Arthur V. Johnson as Petruchio. It features Cole Porters memorable music and Kelli OHara and Will Chase as Lilli Vanessi and Fred Graham, a bickering divorced couple thrown together when, John Augustus Atkinson. Upon finding Shakespeare's language difficult and out of date, she creates a rap version. The premise follows . [72][79], The interior of Baptista's house in the 1980, For more information on this production, see. It is now believed lost, although several stills survive in the library archives of the Shakespeare Birthplace Trust. I can stay? Create your account. Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. Nobody has seen us yet, and they wont know which one of us is the servant and which one is the master. It is known as the "most adapted" play but which also cannot be performed "straight" due to the ambiguities in the "wife-taming plot" (Stevens 491) and the mysterious silence of the female protagonist, which are in- terestingly unearthed if not completely dissolved in the film version. Find teaching resources and opportunities. The first moment is behind the stained glass window, when she silently decides to marry him. Atomic Shakespeare - Bruce Willis and Cybill Shepherd with the cast of Moonlighting put on one of the hands down funniest versions of this play I have ever seen. The film was part of a series called Shakespeare in Performance, which produced adaptations using relatively complete texts intended for use as educational tools in schools, with the primary aim being to show how the plays would have looked when originally performed. Discover Shakespeares stories and the world that shaped them. Its so much fun. There is no known cast list for this film. Master, you stared at that girl for so long that you might not have noticed the essence of the situation. Staged in commedia dellarte style, highly physical, active, and funny, it did the best job of justifying the Petruchio/Katarina relationship of any production Ive ever seen. After all, it is the first time that someone found her rudeness appealing. The lord dresses up as a servant, and when Sly wakes everyone convinces him he is the master of the house. In order to bring Shrew to a modern audience, many directors have opted for adaptations or responses rather than performing the play as originally written. Id rather be whipped in the marketplace every morning than marry her even with a large dowry. You know Im firmly resolved not to give my younger daughter in marriage before Ive found a husband for the older one. Most significantly, when Petruchio outlines his plan to tame her "with kindness" (4.1.195), which is usually a soliloquy, Katherina hears him. The 2005 version does discuss this issue and while it manages to stay true to Shakespeare, it brings a modern touch to it. Run the house and the servants just like I would. The 1953 film Kiss Me Kate trades Shakespeare's poetry for songs from Cole Porter and presents a self-referential story of warring lovers who spar while playing Shakespeare's warring lovers. Now I'm asking you to act like his servant, while I get out of here to save my life. To our modern social sensibilities, William Shakespeare's The Taming of the Shrew (1580-1582) is easily the most disconnected and uncomfortable of his comedies. in English, and loves her romance with a touch of suspenseful mystery. [59] In 2002, the television series One on One produced an episode called "Tame me, I'm a Shrew". The Taming of the Shrew episode was the basis of a two-part Roundhouse Theatre workshop starring Suzanne Bertish and Daniel Massey, which addressed whether or not the play demeans women, or depicts how they are demeaned in society. Do you like Taming of the Shrew and if so, do you have a favorite version? Love and marriage are the concerns of ShakespearesThe Taming of the Shrew. "[69] Actress Sarah Badel had a similar conception of the psychology behind the production. On the stage, it's possible to make it work much better: it's a folk style which sits rather uncomfortably in this very twentieth-century medium of domestic viewing. The Key to Getting ALL Students Understanding and Interpreting Complex Texts. Although Taming of the Shrew movie adaptations are plentiful, five are most notable. What do you think about this retelling of The Taming of the Shrew? The best known cinematic adaptations are Sam Taylor's 1929 The Taming of the Shrew and Franco Zeffirelli's 1967 The Taming of the Shrew, both of which starred the most famous celebrity couples of their era; Mary Pickford and Douglas Fairbanks in 1929 and Elizabeth Taylor and Richard Burton in 1967. Zeffirelli and Burton both wanted Elizabeth Taylor to deliver the speech ironically, a la Mary Pickford, but Taylor felt it would be better to speak seriously, and then undermine that seriousness by leaving the banquet without Petruchio, thus subverting his apparent authority over her. Where have I been? "Staging and Storytelling, Theatre and Film: "Examples of the Motif of the Shrew in European Literature and Film", "Shakespeare influenced Kannada films too", "Blast from the Past: Gundamma Katha (1962)", "My Shakespeare: Morgan Freeman on The Taming of the Shrew", "The Taming of the Shrew: 'Tis a very excellent piece of stage, film artistry", British Universities Film & Video Council, https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=The_Taming_of_the_Shrew_on_screen&oldid=1117236716, "The Taming of the Shrew" (1950); episode of the children's TV show, "Atomic Shakespeare" (1986); episode of the TV show, "Tame Me, I'm the Shrew" (2002); episode of the TV show, "My Shakespeare: Morgan Freeman" (2014); episode of, This page was last edited on 20 October 2022, at 16:49. Learn more about the play, its language, and its history from the experts behind our edition. In fact, they clearly already have feelings for each other even before the wedding takes place. This script, however, was heavily rewritten by Hall of Fame producer William Nichols, who removed the frame. See Entire Document Download Document. Hes locked her up to keep the men away. 5. The textual editing takes account of recent . I adore the fact that Petruchio tells her about his monetary problems straight away. Whatever man can woo Katherina, marry her, sleep with her and get rid of her I wish he had the fastest horse in Padua! [57], In 1994, BBC aired an adaptation as part of Shakespeare: The Animated Tales. My books and music will keep me company. Do you think its possible? Michelle McLean is a jeans and t-shirt kind of girl who is addicted to chocolate and goldfish crackers and spent most of her formative years with her nose in a book. Therefore she's mad for lack of love [] he feigns madness, she is teetering on the edge of it. The basic story line of overcoming the problems the couple is initially faced with is seen in all 3 reworkings. The film was directed by Franco Zeffirelli, an acclaimed theater director who would make several of the biggest Shakespeare films ever, including the the 1968 version of Romeo and Juliet and the 1991 version of Hamlet. "[5][6], The first sound adaptation of the play was in 1929; Sam Taylor's The Taming of the Shrew, starring Mary Pickford and Douglas Fairbanks (the first sound adaptation of any Shakespeare play[7]). Enter Lucentio and his man Tranio], [Enter Baptista with his two daughters Katherina and Bianca; Gremio, an elderly suitor of Bianca; and Hortensio, suitor of Bianca. It's a device that brings the audience into close identification with some person who is like them. Lets go. She is not as horrible as she is portrayed in the play, but is instead a nonconforming punk rocker who is clearly the heroine of the story. Theyll have to fight their way through past prejudices and their own determination to destroy their union in order to gain their perfect HEA in this Taming of the Shrew meets How to Lose a Guy in 10 Days tale. He had never performed Shakespeare before, was not a fan of the first two seasons of the BBC Television Shakespeare, and took some persuading from Miller that the BBC Shrew would not be, as he feared "about a lot of furniture being knocked over, a lot of wine being spilled, a lot of thighs being slapped and a lot of unmotivated laughter. The initial script was written by Michael Hogan, who included the Induction, and kept Sly on stage for the entire show, which culminated with him beating his own wife, much to the delight of the actors who have just performed for him. Vinegar Girl by Anne Tyler. I hadnt seen it in 20 years when I mentioned it to a friend, and it turned out shed seen it, too. Benson directed a twelve-minute silent filmed extract from his own Shakespeare Memorial Theatre production, starring himself and his wife, Constance Benson. Now hush, Tranio! Ive read a couple scathing reviews of this version, but I still found ample laughs and plenty of entertainment! Created by Walcyr Carrasco, the show starred Adriana Esteves and Eduardo Moscovis as Catarina and Petruchio, respectively. Scholars are also interviewed in each episode, and clips from various productions are shown, as well as scenes shot specifically for the show at Shakespeare's Globe. An essay about Shakespeare and the time in which he lived, Shakespeares Theater Ill be someone else, maybe from Florence or Naples, or just a regular man from Pisa. After all, our main characters are very fiery individuals. "Ten things I hate about you is a good appropriation of Shakespeare's play 'taming of the shrew'. 2. About Shakespeares The Taming of the Shrew Ten things I hate about you It is a modern and youthful version of 1999 . A record of the variants in the early printings of this text, A Modern Perspective Learn about the building renovation and start planning your visit. Graham Holderness argues of this scene, the collapse of an ecclesiastical service into a merciless parody, unrestrained revelry and orgiastic release is Zeffirelli's attempt to reconstruct the carnivals of the Middle Ages [] in the course of the opening sequence, framed as an "induction" by the superimposition of the film titles, we observe the barbaric anti-ceremony of clerics wearing grotesque animal masks, sacred music giving way to obscene and cacophonous chants and a blasphemously parodic image of the Virgin. I think this came out in the 80s. Footage from Shakespeare's Globe depicts two different performances of the "I will be master of what is mine own" (3.2.231-235) speech; one delivered in an aggressive threatening manner, one in a bawdy sexual manner, directed by Adele Thomas and performed by Eleanor Matsuura and Anthony Howell.[64]. Pickford makes it clear that Katherine is being ironic, as she slyly winks to Bianca at one point, out of view of the male characters. The Taming of the Shrew In Plain and Simple English (A Modern Translation) An adaptation for young readers of Shakespeare's play in which a gentleman from Verona tries to tame the fiery older sister Katharina with his outrageous behaviour. Fairbanks and Pickford had been two of the biggest stars of the silent era and this was one of their earliest 'talkies'. Goodbye Katherina, you can stay here. It has given us so many wonderful adaptions of our beloved classics. . I know you give good advice. Katherine states it is a woman's duty to love and obey her husband, but with the requirement that he do precisely the same for her. This version is also lost. Its hard to believe that she played one of Bridget Jones less outspoken and meek friends before. I dont know about that. Similarly, the 2000-2001 Brazilian soap opera O Cravo e a Rosa relocates the play to 1920s So Paulo and introduces Catarina, a wealthy feminist who doesn't believe in marriage and slowly finds herself falling in love with a gruff peasant farmer named Petruchio. Sure, but didnt you see anything else? (2010). (Bet you would never have guessed that.) Katherine, the shrew of the plays title, certainly acts much changed. It seems to be implying that Katherine has learned to control Petruchio by submitting to her. document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); I SHIP Monica and Chandler AKA Mondler. If we want to court Bianca again and be rivals like we were before, we need to accomplish one thing. The result was four straight to TV modern retellings that took the viewers by surprise with their fresh and original takes on the classics. Call (509) 325-2507 or visit www.spokanecivictheatre.com for information or tickets. The film opens with a Punch and Judy puppet show which several critics have argued performs a similar function to the Christopher Sly Induction in the original play, but also works to instill a sense of false anticipation in the audience; the puppet show ends with Judy sinking lovingly into Punch's arms after he beats her. A commedia dell'arte-style production, Katherina and Petruchio first meet in a boxing ring, with their initial encounter, literally, turning into a boxing match. Love cant just be scolded out of the heart. [2] A 1913 Italian version, the twenty-two-minute La bisbetica domata, was directed by Arrigo Frusta and starred Gigetta Morano and Eleuterio Rodolfi. I could ask you the same thing! Support us to bring Shakespeare and his world to life for everyone. Why lock her up just because of her crazy sister, Signor Baptista? [56], In 1986, the television series Moonlighting produced an episode entitled "Atomic Shakespeare", written by Ron Osborn and Jeff Reno (with a writing credit for William 'Budd' Shakespeare), and directed by Will Mackenzie. Modern Adaptations Taming of the Shrew LibriVox recording of The Taming of the Shrew by William Shakespeare. by Melancholy_girl3. Unfortunately, her wealthy father . The Taming of the Shrew has puzzled, entertained and angered audiences, and it has been reinvented many times throughout its controversial history. Petruchio must have read the right books because he comes prepared with the ultimate pitch: a marriage proposal. "[76], In this adaptation, the induction and all subsequent references to Sly are absent. The child then has a mirror held up to it and is capable of seeing what it looks like to others. I love this couple and the witty connection between Kate (Shirley Henderson) and Petruchio (Rufus Sewell)!!! Gentlemen, Id like to make good on what Ive said Bianca, go inside. It's a tough play, one that's had accusations of misogyny leveled against it time and again. The pla. It is thought to be the first version to show scenes which take place off-stage in the play; in this case, the wedding and the journey to Petruchio's house. Their Happily Ever After is postponed slightly until they learn to actually get along with each other first. Back in 2005, the BBC decided to bring four of Shakespeares most popular plays into the present: Two comedies and two tragedies. But first Ill make sure he keeps our secret. The Taming Of The Shrew is an extremely difficult play to present to a modern day audience, as its controversy, caused by prominent themes including dominant males, submissive women and general inequality in the sexes simply can not be accepted in present society. Her younger sister, Bianca, can't marry until Katherine does. The Taming of the Shrew (1967) The 1967 version, like the 1929 version, starred the most famous movie star couple in the word at the time. [15] However, Elizabeth Schafer calls the film "intensely conservative," citing the controversial advertising blurb; "A motion picture for every man who ever gave the back of his hand to his belovedand for every woman who deserved it. I really enjoyed those two together. Induction The play opens with the Lord playing a prank on the poor tinker, Christopher Sly. Indeed it was. Petruchio takes money from Biancas suitors to woo her, since Katherine must marry before her sister by her fathers decree; he also arranges the dowry with her father. And dont be upset, Bianca, Ill love you no matter what. Its an excellent piece of work, madam lady: but I wish it were done! "[75] Diana E. Henderson was unimpressed with this approach, however, writing "it was the perfect production to usher in the neo-conservative 1980s" and "this BBC-TV museum piece unabashedly celebrates the order achieved through female submission. 9 'Abdel Hakim Caracalla, who adapted three Shakespearean plays for the Middle Eastern stage, claims that "the subjugation of women to men as in The Taming of the Shrew is a phenomenon which is more . She constructed an "imaginary biography" for Katherina, arguing "She's a woman of such passion [] a woman of such enormous capacity for love that the only way she could be happy is to find a man of equal capacity. The Taming of the Shrew By: Shakespeare, William; Series: Publication details: Ware; Wordsworth; 2004 Description: 143 Pages; Paperback ISBN: 9781853260797; Subject(s): Poetry, Drama & Criticism; DDC classification: 822.33; Summary: The Wordsworth Classics' Shakespeare's Series presents a newly-edited sequence of William Shakespeare's works. By Rachel Johnson . The Yale Shakespeare: The taming of the shrew, ed. Subordination Harry bets Petruchio that he will not be able to woo Katherine, so, determined to prove him wrong, Petruchio sets out to win her over. Book: The Taming of the Shrew. Its available on DVD, and its well worth discovering. I would definitely recommend Study.com to my colleagues. [2] Another English adaptation was released in 1915, directed by and starring Arthur Backner. But have she and Petruchio learned to love each other? Baptista Minola, a rich gentleman of Padua, has two daughters . If either of you, Hortensio and Gremio, know any teachers like that, introduce them to me. The Lord and his servants find Sly drunk on the streets. Its like a teacher waved a magic wand and did the work for me. The only complication is a 1594 quarto titled The Taming of A Shrew that is not ascribed to Shakespeare and which has an uncertain relationship to The Shrew. Do you think anyones stupid enough to marry that demon even with all her fathers money? They are truly a perfect match. Atomic Shakespeare Bruce Willis and Cybill Shepherd with the cast of Moonlighting put on one of the hands down funniest versions of this play I have ever seen. Shakespeares Life In 1999, the movie 10 things I hate about you was released as a modernized version of The Taming of the Shrew. A much more exciting, authentic, and rigorous final assessment than an essay or test. In short, sir, study what you like the most. But although, good master, I admire the virtue and morality you mentioned, lets not be stoic or emotionless, please, nor so devoted to Aristotles self-restraint that we reject Ovids love poetry altogether. The film centers on a divorced pair of Broadway actors who are starring together in a musical version of The Taming of the Shrew. I enjoyed this version almost as much as 10 Things I hate About You as an adaptation of Taming of the Shrew. Theres something for everyone. And now I must confess Ill confide in you like Dido did to her sister Anna Oh Tranio, Im burning, missing her Ill die if I cant be with this girl, Tranio! [62], In 2009, ABC Family adapted the 1999 film 10 Things I Hate About You as a sitcom of the same name, starring Lindsey Shaw and Ethan Peck. Refresh the page,. Its good for everyone if we find Baptistas older daughter a husband. Okay, I think Ive only seen these 4 movies versions of Taming of the Shrew (although I have seen the production live once) so Im going to throw in an extra gif from Atomic Shakespeare because seriously, I just love this show! The film presented a heavily truncated pantomime version of the story, with pieces of Shakespeare's original text used as intertitles throughout. And so was my father before me: Vincentino, a merchant who trades all around the world. And Ive always had so much fun. Each of the four retellings is clever in their own way, but The Taming of the Shrew shot into a league of its own. The show chronicles the lives of individuals living together in a house as they compete in various competitions to ultimately win $100,000.00. Suggestions from our experts on where to learn more. [48] However, this was an adaptation of Garrick's Catharine and Petruchio, not Shakespeare's Shrew. Im pretty. The Taming of the Shrew. Trust me, Id wish that too, if it meant Lucentio could have Baptistas youngest daughter. And since I know Bianca loves music and poetry, Ill keep teachers around the house who can instruct her. This is equally true when it comes to romance. Heres an example: Petruchio: I want you to have all my babies. Read "The Taming of the Shrew" by William Shakespeare available from Rakuten Kobo. The eldest sister, Katherine, is years-old and a member of the British political system. Ill race you to her. This version also shows scenes not in the play. It only makes sense for me, Vincentios son raised in Florence, to fulfill my fathers expectations. This student asks, What led you to become an actor, and where do you envision your career going? This seemingly, Danny Scheie as Grumio. Dive deep into the worlds largest Shakespeare collection and access primary sources from the early modern period. Your fellow servant Tranio is dressed up as me, to save my life. So, Tranio: youll be my master instead of me. The difference is the ages of the characters. It would be on television a little extra programme tagged on before the programme proper begins. He takes one look at her and realises that here is the woman for him, but he has to go through the process of 'reconditioning' her before anything else. The themes and stock characters are outdated and offensive to many. If only Biondello would arrive, we could prepare ourselves right away. The book Vinegar Girl, the films Isi Life Mein, 10 Things I Hate About You, Deliver Us From Eva, and the television show BBC's ShakespeaRe-Told show how modern adaptations of The Taming of the Shrew focus solely on gender biases indicative of this time period, and not Shakespeare's time period because they ignore an important portion of the As rehearsals get under way for the play, the relationship between the actors, Fred and Lilli, resembles that of Petruchio and Katherine, leading to chaos as the play approaches opening night. The episode opens with a boy who is annoyed that he has to read The Shrew for his homework, rather than watching his favourite programme, Moonlighting itself. Oh yes, I saw the sweet beauty of her face! On the first day of school, make your students want to come back to class. Most accurate film adaptation of The Taming of The Shrew : r/shakespeare. Marriage isnt even close to what I want. Our bestselling editions of Shakespeare's plays and poems. [A flourish. For your masters sake, not mine, be careful in different groups of people. Become a Teacher Member to get exclusive access to lesson plans and professional development.