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The Taming of the Shrew

A BBC Radio Shakespeare production

Audiobook
1 of 1 copy available
1 of 1 copy available

In this BBC full-cast production of The Taming of the Shrew, the freedom and virility of women is frowned upon. Will Petruchio's quest to 'tame' his new wife succeed?
Layers of assumed identity, elaborate role-playing, and acerbic exchanges of wit reveal the real relationship between men and women in this exuberant production of one of Shakespeare's earliest comedies.
Gerard McSorley stars as Petruchio and Ruth Mitchell as Katherina in Shakespeare's sharply witty comedy.
BBC radio has a unique heritage when it comes to Shakespeare. Since 1923, when the newly-formed company broadcast its first full-length play, generations of actors and producers have honed and perfected the craft of making Shakespeare to be heard.
In this acclaimed BBC Radio Shakespeare series, each play is introduced by Richard Eyre, former Director of the Royal National Theatre. Revitalised, original and comprehensive, this is Shakespeare for the modern day.

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  • Reviews

    • AudioFile Magazine
      The success of a production of "Shrew" depends on the actors playing the shrew, Kate, and the "shrew tamer," Petruchio. Happily, Frances Barber's Kate is terrifyingly shrill early in the play; she transforms her voice to that of a rich and gentle maiden by the comedy's end. Likewise, Roger Allam's voice communicates Petruchio's pride and matching emotional transformations throughout the play. The madcap interactions and resulting humor among all the character flow, as well. Though there are more than a dozen characters, each voice is distinct and clear. The one drawback in the production is its richness; at times, there are such rich accents and so much background noise that it's hard to tell what is being said. G.T.B. (c) AudioFile 2005, Portland, Maine
    • AudioFile Magazine
      This full-text CBC version of shrewish Kate's harsh wooing and winning does not bother to list the cast, an indication of its workmanlike, uninspired quality. But the actors, while sometimes "stagy," are at least professional, and Petruchio's relish in his role brings fun to what sometimes plods. Speeches reverberate oddly at times, and the production's "original orchestration"--an anemic flute and toy-like strings--punctuates scenes but adds little else. Caveat auditor: It can be tough to know who is speaking in this tale of tangled identities, and the language is dense with puns, double entrendres, and jargon. For full understanding, the Shakespeare-challenged may need to follow along with an annotated text. W.M. (c) AudioFile 2004, Portland, Maine

Formats

  • OverDrive Listen audiobook

Languages

  • English

Levels

  • Lexile® Measure:1050

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