Review: Sexist? Sure, but Murphys Creek 'Shrew' a winner

By Lisa Millegan, Bee Arts Writer
Modesto Bee
Monday, June 23rd, 2003

Rating: *** 1/2
**** Excellent; *** Good; ** Fair; * Poor

MURPHYS -- There's no doubt about it. 'The Taming of the Shrew' is a disturbing comedy that glorifies wife abuse in the name of humor.

But Murphys Creek Theatre makes the 400-year-old Shakespeare play as palatable as possible by downplaying the harsher language and keeping a light slapstick tone. It also doesn't hurt that the acting is terrific.

Kathleen Ennis, the Modesto actress who plays the shrew, seems like she's mocking the other female characters when she urges them at the end of the show to treat their husbands as lords and 'kneel for peace.' I got the sense that she doesn't really feel those rules apply to her.

Jack Souza, Ennis' real-life husband, is more buffoonish than scary as the shrew's bullying spouse Petruchio. He ends up kneeling for Kate at the close of the play and reveals a more romantic heart with a sincere tender kiss.

Expertly directed by Graham Scott Green and Deborah Taylor, the production is set in the 1920s, giving it an appealing Jazz Age sensibility.

Kate the shrew is a pants-wearing tomboy who clashes with her prissy younger sister, Bianca. Several men want to marry Bianca but the women's father won't let her wed until Kate finds a husband.

Enter Petruchio, who arrives in town wanting to marry a rich woman. He decides to make a match with Kate even though most people think she is a 'fiend from hell.' But Kate won't be easily tamed. She punches, kicks and slaps him the moment they meet.

The two do marry and, after much sparring, eventually become the happiest couple in town.

Jacqueline Hillsman is a sugary sweet Bianca who enjoys being the center of male attention. Mike Clarke is a doddering old fool as Bianca and Kate's father. Todd Thomas keeps things interesting by playing the cunning servant Tranio as a Tony Soprano clone and David Abad is properly uptight as the rich Gremio, the only one of Bianca's suitors who likes to knit. About 10 other cast members play an assortment of servants and townspeople.

Mark Wilson's attractive set consists of white Greek columns in front of a pond used for dunking the heads of a few characters.

The directors should have cut the opening scenes with the drunk, Christopher Sly, that set up the show as a play within a play.

The story about Kate and Petruchio is supposed to be entertainment for Sly but the scenes are hard to understand and just end up confusing the audience.

But the rest of the show flows well.

It is easy to get lost on the drive to the amphitheater because it's in a remote country location with few signs pointing the way. But once you arrive and see the stunning wooded scenery, it's all worth it. 

'The Taming of the Shrew' may be hopelessly sexist but Murphys Creek Theatre's skilled cast has found a way to win over modern audiences.

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