‘Taming of the Shrew’ was the opening show in Capital Classic’s Greater Hartford Shakespeare Festival, which has returned to West Hartford for another year of summer theatre featuring two Shakespeare classics.  

By Bridget Bronsdon  

Nestled in the heart of the University of Saint Joseph’s campus, West Hartford theatre buffs will find Capital Classic’s Greater Hartford Shakespeare Festival. Fully-equipped with stage lighting, live music, and elaborate costumes, the performances aren’t ones to miss. 

This year, the festival has expanded to put on two plays in repertory, Hamlet and The Taming of the Shrew. The alternating performances are set to run from July 10-Aug. 4 and each production will take the stage 10 times throughout their four-week stay. The full schedule can be found here.  

The Taming of the Shrew, which debuted on Wednesday, was loaded with quirky dialogue, witty banter, and effortless comedic relief. The story, hilariously intertwining themes of love and gender roles, follows two sisters, Bianca and Katherine. While Lucentio, the son of a wealthy gentleman, hopes to marry the charming Bianca, she is not allowed to marry until her “shrewish” older sister, Katherine, does the same.

Much to Katherine’s dismay, Petruccio, an eligible bachelor, takes her as his wife, but one question still remains: Will Katherine, the shrew, be tamed? As hilarity and absurdity ensue, guests will have to wait to see what happens.

While the play is entirely spoken in old Shakespearean English, the cast’s animated gestures and spirited dialogue help audience members follow along. Director Jan Mason sang the praises of her cast and the work they’ve done.  

“You really have to study the text and do script analysis and really sort of get inside of the text and wrestle with ‘what are they really saying,’” she said. “So we really worked on understanding the text, and then, there’s a lot of implied or suggested action or meaning in there and a lot of jokes that aren’t really obvious at first but you end up teasing it out in the rehearsal process, so it was a process of discovery really.”

As for the performers, their energy was palpable. “I’ve got a very playful cast,” Mason said. 

“They’re very playful and funny and we really played a lot in rehearsal,” she said. “We were really searching for as much comedy and playfulness as we could find in the text.” 

As the cast was graced by an evening breeze and a setting sun painting the backdrop, the hysterical performance offered viewers a taste of everything – marriage, deception, disguise, love, family, and a story to remember. The performers, animated as ever with impeccable comedic timing, had the audience on the edge of their seats, hanging on every word, and belly-laughing throughout the night.  

In addition to their outstanding performance value, the festival has also expanded its amenities. While in previous years audience members could bring refreshments for a picnic-style viewing, this year, the festival also offers concessions. From hot dogs to popcorn to candy, there is something for everyone, and guests can even purchase wine or beer. The festival also has merchandise such as mugs and apparel available for purchase. 

As The Taming of the Shrew has kicked off its run, Hamlet is set to debut on Thursday evening and while much of the cast remains the same, the story is completely different. 

“We selected Hamlet first, I knew I wanted to direct that,” said Hamlet Director Geoffrey Sheehan. “I thought that spoke very profoundly of a lot of what’s going on today with young people facing a world and the challenges of that” he said. 

While Hamlet, one of Shakespeares’s most famous tragedies won’t have audiences chuckling in their seats, they certainly will be in for a special performance. 

Like what you see here? Click here to subscribe to We-Ha’s newsletter so you’ll always be in the know about what’s happening in West Hartford! Click the blue button below to become a supporter of We-Ha.com and our efforts to continue producing quality journalism.