The Cast

Christopher Sly: Michael Williams
A drunken tinker, Sly is brought unconscious to a rich nobleman's house, where the nobleman and his household dress him in finery, give him good food and even a "wife," and convince him he is the lord of the house. When a troupe of traveling players arrives at the house, it is for him that they perform The Taming of the Shrew.

Baptista Minola: Douglas Brown
A weathy gentleman of Padua and Katherina and Bianca's father, Baptista is a harried father, having difficulty marrying his two daughters because the older one is a notorious shrew. He is not, however, an object of sympathy. He ignores the question of his daughters' happiness in seeking mates for them, and Katherina may be a shrew chiefly because of the way he treats her.

 

 

Vincentio: Joe Huddleston
An old merchant of Pisa and Lucentio's father, Vincentio is extremely fond of his son and is grief-stricken when he discovers that Lucentio may have come to harm. He arrives in Padua amidst much confusion and is almost jailed as an imposter before Lucentio arrives to clear matters up.

Lucentio: Isaac Sturt
A young student in love with Bianca, Lucentio changes clothes with his servant and offers himself as Bianca's tutor, thus ensuring he can woo Bianca privately. He ultimately does win her hand, although both he and Bianca are immature and no match for Petruchio and Katherina.

Pedant: Bernard Whelan
Vincentio's actual imposter, employed to fool Baptista.

Petruchio: Jeremy Newton
A gentleman of Verona, Petruchio arrives in Padua looking for a wife and is soon pointed toward Katherina, whom he roughly courts and quickly marries. His character has two levels. On the surface, he appears to be rough and unfeeling, but underneath it all he is intelligent and understanding--and deeply in love with his new wife. Certainly he is somewhat less than gentle, but he has a keen sense of humor and is the perfect match for Katherina.

Gremio: Ellis Nicholls
An elderly and wealthy suitor of Bianca, Gremio gets "Cambio" (the disguised Lucentio) the pose as tutor to her, on the understanding that he will woo her on his behalf; however, Lucentio woos and wins her for himself.

Hortensio: Nigel Dams
Another suitor for Bianca's hand and an honest friend of Petruchio, Hortensio is basically a good man but perhaps a bit foolish. He continues his suit of Bianca without encouragement from her, but finally abandons it, declaring "kindness in women, not their beauteous looks, / Shall win my love" (4.2.41-42).

  

Katherina: Sally Waghorn
Baptista's daughter and Bianca's older sister, Katherina is known throughout Padua as "Kate the Curst"; however, she has a much deeper character than the term would imply. She appears mean to Bianca, but only because she has continually been second in her father's affections. The transformation which she undergoes after she marries Petruchio is not one of character, but one of attitude. She alters dramatically from the bitter and accursed shrew to the obedient and happy wife when she discovers that her husband loves her enough to help her, in contrast to those who treated her badly. Beneath the surface the shrew is not a shrew at all.

Bianca: Marsha Bevan
Baptista's daughter and Katherina's younger sister, Bianca is an unkind sister and later a disobedient wife. She fosters her father's attitude of favoritism for herself and dislike for Katherina by playing the part of a noble victim. Her disregard for the wishes of her new husband, Lucentio, leads to grim speculation as to what her behavior may be when they have been married longer. Ironically, as the play ends, she is more of a shrew than her sister.

Tranio: Gareth Davies
Lucentio's lighthearted and mischievous servant, Tranio changes clothes and positions with Lucentio so his master can woo Bianca. He accepts this with some reluctance initially, but soon warms to the role.

Biondello: Hilary Lee-Corbin
Lucentio's servant, Biondello assumes the role of Tranio's servant when Tranio assumes the role of their master.

Grumio: Tony Bowman
Petruchio's comic servant, Grumio is rather dense, but not stupid. He has a keen sense of humor and a great love of jokes and tricks.

Widow: Ellie Tallent
The third wife in this play of comparisons, the Widow marries Hortensio after he finds he has lost Bianca to Lucentio. At Lucentio's banquet she loses her husband a wager when she does not come obediently when he calls.

  

Tailor: Margot Tringham
Curtis: Maureen Collins
Hostess: Victoria Paterson, Ann Wake
1st Lord: Nigel Morley
Huntsmen: Bernard Whelan, Max Bevan
Alice, a servant: Alex Newton
Bartholomew: Paul Collier
Natalie: Anna Harman
Philippa: Di Huddleston
Nicola: Rene Glasscock

Director: Ian Cullen
Assistant Director: Ann Wake

Stage Manager: Frances Kirby
Assistant SM: Alex Newton

Costumes: Sally Waghorn, Pat Oneill
Lighting: Robert Barnard
Sound: Robert Barnard, Malcolm Corbin