The Taming of the Shrew [Paperback]

This book discusses the stage history of The Taming of the Shrew, surveying major productions of the play.The story of Katherina and her marriage to Petruchio has been popular in the theatre for four centuries, but the joke of taming an unruly woman has become increasingly controversial. This edition examines how theatre directors and performers have explored the complexities of Katherina's story and that of Christopher Sly, the poor man whose story frames hers. The edition surveys a variety of productions in the English-speaking world. It informs readers about precise details of the stage action and in the context of contemporary theatrical, societal and political conditions.The story of Katherina and her marriage to Petruchio has been popular in the theatre for four centuries, but the joke of taming an unruly woman has become increasingly controversial. This edition examines how theatre directors and performers have explored the complexities of Katherina's story and that of Christopher Sly, the poor man whose story frames hers. The edition surveys a variety of productions in the English-speaking world. It informs readers about precise details of the stage action and in the context of contemporary theatrical, societal and political conditions.The story of Katherina and her marriage to Petruchio has been popular in the theater for four centuries, but the joke of taming an unruly woman has long been growing increasingly controversial. This edition examines how theater directors and performers have explored the complexities of Katherina's story and that of Christopher Sly, the poor man whose story frames hers. It surveys productions in the English-speaking world, reviewing precise details of the stage action in a social and political context.List of illustrations; Series editors' preface; Acknowledgements; Editor's note; List of abbreviations; List of productions; Introduction; The Taming of the Shrew and commentary; Bibliography; Index.'I cannot recommend too hil£