A CLASSIC THAT STILL DELIGHTS

Strong performances and
lively staging carry the day

Juan Arturo and Kate Eastman

Small Boat and kotto Productions bring Shakespeare’s romantic comedy The Taming of the Shrew to life in La MaMa‘s downstairs Club Space. An onstage bar before curtain sets the tone for the evening, and by the end of the night, you may have strived mightily, but you’ll eat and drink as friends.

The first production from Shakespeare Entirely, Shakespeare CSE‘s staging arm, this go-round lives up to the series’ namesake by keeping the prologue, which tells us the tale of Christopher Sly, a local drunkard who’s fooled into believing that he’s a nobleman awakening from a years-long coma. Most modern productions cut the prologue, but with a cast this good, it’s worth spending the time.

Milena Makse, Uma Paranjpe, McLean Peterson, Romeo Torres, and Shannon Mastel

For those of you who snoozed through English class, our story unfolds in Padua, Italy, where Lucentio falls for the lovely Bianca, only to discover that she can’t marry until her sharp-tongued older sister, Katherina, finds a husband first. Enter the swaggering Petruchio, and suddenly mistaken identities, disguises, flirtation, and frantic hijinks send Shakespeare’s battle of the sexes spinning into motion.

McLean Peterson and Romeo Torres

Performed by a talented ensemble on a modest thrust stage, the production allows director Karsten Otto to make excellent use of the bare-brick event space, cleverly employing two rolling platforms and a handful of chairs and stools.

McLean Peterson

Olivia Vaughn Hern’s bright multicolored costumes evoke the 15th century with tunics, skirts, and frills mixed with modern touches such as denim patches. All of the players wear subtle but recognizable clownish makeup, evoking the playful spirit of commedia dell’arte.

Will Sarratt and Kate Eastman

The strongest element of this cozy Off-Off-Broadway effort is its charming and verse-proficient cast, who dart and delight with a strong rendering of the Bard’s prose.

Juan Arturo and Kate Eastman

Standouts include Kate Eastman‘s Katherine, who scolds and stalks the stage. McLean Peterson‘s Bianca flounces and flirts, while Romeo Torres dotes, tutors, and woos. Mario C. Brown, Will Sarratt, and Uma Paranjpe keep the zaniness at full tilt as Tranio, Grumio, and Biondello.

Juan Arturo

Nowadays, Shrew raises questions about gender roles and power dynamics in marriage within a patriarchal society. Petruchio is not exactly wooing Kate with his sensitive side as he denies her food, comfort, and even a decent dress to wear, wearing her down to the point of compliance. The Taming of the Shrew is a funny play until it isn’t, with Katherine’s final speech endorsing wifely obedience.

The cast of The Taming of the Shrew

Part romantic romp, part uneasy battle of the sexes, The Taming of the Shrew remains one of Shakespeare’s trickiest comedies, but there’s still a lot of fun to be had. Otto’s energetic and engaging production doesn’t solve its contradictions, but it makes them compelling enough to keep debating long after the curtain call.

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photos by Reaching Glory Productions

The Taming of the Shrew
Small Boat Productions & kotto Productions’ Shakespeare, Entirely
La MaMa ETC, Club Space, 66 East 4th Street in New York City
Thu–Sat at 7; Sun at 2
two hours and 45 minutes with 15-minute intermission
ends on August 2, 2026
for tickets ($40–$60), visit Eventbrite

for more shows, visit Theatre in New York

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