Production

Nevertheless, although there are anomalies in the written introduction of the programme, the play itself was very well produced, for an amateur production, and "got across" to the audience from the beginning, although the tempo was a little slow until Petruchio got things moving. He showed fine acting ability as did the shrew Katherina, although she became tame rather quickly. Her last long speech particularly showed individual interpretation. She did not burlesque domesticity, but made it serious in contrast with the other domestic references of the play. Shakespeare may have meant it seriously when we consider the position of women in the unenlightened Elizabethan age. It is certainly a possible interpretation.

Of the other characters, Bianca seemed a little colourless for her part, and Tranto perhaps effeminate. Grumio. as he usually does, overacted, and became more a down than his part intended. The real Vincentio was very convincing, and the Lord acted capably. Altogether the play was a success, and was especially helped by the touch of reality throughout which Sly and his wife gave on the stage. As one newspaper has remarked, the novel curtain call gave the play a neat ending, which otherwise might have been a difficulty. Other productions of "The Taming of the Shrew" have omitted the induction as unnecessary, or else have not left Sly and his wife on the' stage; but it was a very great help to the success of the play that these were included, especially since a great deal of the best poetry of the play is found in the introduction.