The Taming of the Shrew

This is one of my favorite Shakespeare stories and this is by far the best showing. It was all action, energy, fast and fun. No sets, just a stage and tons of talent. I kick myself when to think I could have made a VHS copy and didn't. I want this on DVD.

It was this performance that sparked my interest in Shakespeare. I don't quite know any higher compliment I can give it. I was 11 or 12 at the time, and Shakespeare was foreign to me despite being the same basic language, yet here it was, so live and real.

I haven't given it 10 of 10 merely because of its slight shortcomings within the medium. This show was for a live audience, and was filmed for television, not made for television. It's simplicity is charming, though.

It works. Watch this show and see what Shakespeare should be. I only wish I could have been there live to see it!

ADDITIONAL NOTE: Now that I've read the other reviews, I find it fascinating that everyone has the same comment that they remember it from 20+ years ago!

Years ago when I first saw this production I was mesmerized. More than a quarter of a century later I can still say that it is the best rendition of "The Taming of the Shrew" that I have ever seen. Thoroughly enjoyable, it appears to follow the original Shakespeare in exactly how I imagine it was meant to be performed for Elizabethan audiences. The actors "played" to the crowd. The bawdy wit was obvious as I am sure it was designed to be. The characters interacted with one another as they would have appeared before an Elizabethan crowd but the dialogue was masterfully spoken in a manner completely understandable to a modern audience.

Marc Singer was wonderful. Truly the best performance of his career.

I saw this twenty years ago, and it has stuck in my mind ever since. The Taming of the Shrew is very difficult to perform without sexism, but in this production it was very clear that -- even though Petruchio's original plan was just to find a wealthy wife -- he quickly came to love and respect Katharine, and that his motivation was to help her break out of an unpleasant persona she had created and gotten locked into. And in return, free of her old self, she respected and loved him, and so was happy to help him look good. I wish it were available on video: I'd really like to see it again.

I saw this program when I was a ten and it knocked my socks off. It was my first intro to Shakespeare and Mark Singer. I was awestruck and couldn't take my eyes of the television screen. This particular production and the rest of the company changed my life. Mark Singer's Petruchio was so full of life and unbridled energy that I think I might have fallen in preteen love with him not to mention the story of the Taming of the Shrew. I've sought out Shakespeare productions ever since (and Mark Singer). The dancing and delivery of the lines were so crisp. I so wish that I could see this particular production again. I still talk about it and wish my kids could view it with me and experience the excitement like I had when I first saw it oh so many years ago.