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What made the Great River Shakespeare Festival’s Thursday preview of “Shrew” remarkable was giving this well-known story a completely fresh and fun twist. Director Alec Wild’s big top circus vision was wonderfully whimsical.
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Foley sound was used, meaning the actors provided the sound effects on stage. The audience quickly grew accustomed to the triangles, xylophone, drums, washboard, slide whistles and kazoos that actors played to help accentuate Shakespeare’s words. It was like a custom-made laugh track.
“Shrew” is the story of two sisters: big sister Katherine (Carla Noack) who has a reputation for being ill-tempered, cross and ornery enough that no man would ever want to marry her, and sweet Bianca (Nicole Rodenburg), whose beauty and sweetness has suitors lining up. Baptista (Michael Fitzpatrick), the girls’ father, won’t let anyone marry Bianca until a husband is found for Katherine. Enter Petruchio (Christopher Gerson), a man willing to “tame” Katherine.
Noack, a Lanesboro, Minn., native and GRSF veteran, embodied the strong-willed Kate immediately. She looked like she would and could body slam Petruchio if he stepped out of line.
“Shrew” showed the immense range of the cast, many members of which brought us the very bloody and very serious “Macbeth” just last year.
Gerson wore a kilt last year in “Macbeth.” This year, he confidently donned a tutu. It’s a great actor who can pull both off.
You could see Wild’s fondness for “The Music Man” in the character of Hortensio, played hilariously by Chris Mixon, whose attire and wide-eyes made him look like he could break into “Trouble in River City” at any minute.
The second act upped the slapstick feel of the show. The supporting cast members got a chance to show off expert physical comedy, including Tarah Flanagan’s acrobatic impression of a table.
The humor was dependent on the cast working together to ensure the timing was right. And it was.
Art is open to interpretation, and many have interpreted “Shrew” as chauvinistic. Noack portrayed Kate as a strong woman, even when she conceded to her husband that the sun is the moon. His worth depended on his wife’s perceived obedience thereby giving her all the power.
Noack’s smile seemed to say that it was her choice to obey her husband — but it’s a woman’s prerogative to change her mind, so he better watch out.
GRSF took a familiar tale and completely made it their own. They showed that even though Shakespeare’s stories have been retold countless times, there are still new ways to tell them.
If you go
What: “The Taming of the Shrew“
When: 7 p.m. tonight
Where: Winona State University’s Performing Arts Center’s Main Stage
SCHEDULE, TICKETS: “The Merchant of Venice” and “The Taming of the Shrew” will be performed through July 27. Tickets are $20 to $35. For a complete schedule or for tickets, visit www.grsf.org.
Free concert: By Chicago blues artist James Armstrong after tonight’s play at about 10 p.m. at Levee Park.
Contact Käri Knutson at kknutson@winonadailynews.com or (507) 453-3523.
