First Folio's new 'Shrew'd!' updates Shakespeare's problematic comedy

Posted July 18, 2018 10:00 am

Christopher W. Jones and Sierra Schnack play battling would-be lovers in First Folio Theatre's “Shrew'd!” Courtesy of Tom McGrath

“Shrew'd!” - ★ ★ ½

In “Shrew'd!” - a breezy new musical adapted from William Shakespeare's “The Taming of the Shrew” - co-writers and lyricists David Rice and Lydia Hiller make palatable the sour notes that conclude this comedy about a man's efforts to “tame” an independent, willful woman.

Criticized for endorsing sexual inequality and male superiority, “The Taming of the Shrew” has been described by some critics as offensive and misogynistic. Others call it liberating and hail the play as a sharp critique of attempts by men to subjugate women. In the new tuner, which premiered Saturday outdoors at Oak Brook's First Folio Theatre, Hiller and Rice downplay Petruchio's mistreatment (some call it abuse) of his wife Katherine, who's denied food and sleep by a husband who ultimately makes her doubt her very senses.

Sidestepping the dilemma posed by Katherine's final speech, Hiller and Rice assign some of her lines to other characters, including Petruchio, her father and her younger, not-so-perfect sister.

Without spoiling the final moments, “Shrew'd!” concludes on an empowering, manifestly feminist note which resolves the “problem” of the original. The musical also acknowledges the lasting influence of Rice's late wife Alison C. Vesely, who co-founded the ensemble with him in 1996 and served as artistic director until her death in 2016.

Lucentio (Tony Carter), left, and best pal Tranio (Sasha Kostyrko) hatch a plan to pursue Bianca in "Shrew'd!" The new musical by David Rice, Lydia Hiller and Christopher Kriz is at Oak Brook's First Folio Theatre. Courtesy of Tom McGrath

“Shrew'd!” pairs composer Christopher Kriz's pleasant pop-jazz score with lyrics containing copious references to 1930s Chicago and its environs, where “Shrew'd!” is set.

The action unfolds at a jazz club called The Bird and the Bush owned by Baptista and managed by his career-focused daughter Katherine (Sierra Schnack), who insists a husband “is a catch I'm never fishing for.” Baptista (the ever exceptional George Keating) pushes marriage and forbids younger daughter Bianca from marrying until Katherine does.

Intrigued by the challenge Katherine poses as well as her sizable dowry, Petruchio (Christopher W. Jones) woos her at the suggestion of his friend Hortensio (a very funny Steven Strafford), one of Bianca's suitors.

Petruchio (Christopher W. Jones) woos the unwilling and willful Katherine (Sierra Schnack) in First Folio Theatre's world premiere of "Shrew'd!" - a musical based on "The Taming of the Shrew." Courtesy of Tom McGrath

Rice and Hiller pepper Shakespeare's wordplay with their own frequently clever dialogue, which references several other Shakespeare plays. Among the sliest of the insider references is “if music be the food of love, then dancing is dessert,” a call out to “Twelfth Night.” It introduces a delicious dance number between Tony Carter's likable Lucentio and Emma Rosenthal's eager Bianca.

Expertly danced, it's one of several hugely entertaining tap and soft shoe duets showcasing Ericka Mac's jolly choreography. Equally charming is Mac's spirited, vaudeville-inspired “Partners,” a friendship-affirming duet between Lucentio and pal Tranio (an agile Sasha Kostyrko), his partner in a harmless deception.

Schnack and Jones generate sparks during their first meeting consisting of slightly suggestive banter about wasps and tails. By the end of the play, their banter has transformed into sweetly playful repartee. But Rice and Hiller have excised the broad comedy that marks Kate and Petruchio's early marriage, so we don't really see their relationship evolve. As a result, the passion their union supposedly inspires feels counterfeit.

"Shrew'd!" runs through Aug. 19 at First Folio Theatre in Oak Brook. Courtesy of Tom McGrath

Johanna McKenzie Miller, in her directing debut, crafts some amusing bits that hint at a screwball comedy beneath the surface of “Shrew'd!” Unfortunately, the musical isn't quite there. Yet.

For one, the second act feels rushed. The romance between Lucentio and Bianca - charming as it is - consumes a lot of stage time and takes away from Kate and Petruchio, whose skirmishes suggest a game of patty-cake rather than the epic battle of the sexes for which the play is known.

Music director/keyboardist Kevin Reeks conducts a solid trio with bassist Jake Saleh and drummer Andy Wilmoth, who are occasionally accompanied by flute and trumpet.

The chorus sounds fine, and Carter, Rosenthal and Schnack possess pleasant voices. Overall, however, the acting and dancing outshine the singing.

That said, Hiller, Kriz and Rice deserve kudos for tackling this tale in the #MeToo era. It's no easy task. But with some shrewd retooling, “Shrew'd!” should rise to the challenge.

Location: First Folio Theatre, Mayslake Peabody Estate, 1717 W. 31st St., Oak Brook; (630) 986-8067 or firstfolio.org

Showtimes: 8:15 p.m. Wednesday through Sunday, through Aug. 19

Running time: About 2 hours, 10 minutes including intermission

Tickets: $34-$44, $17.50 boxed dinner available from Standard Market 48 hours in advance

Parking: Free parking available on the estate grounds

Rating: Suitable for all ages

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