First night–Taming of the Shrew An early comedy–lots of fun–and pretty offensive. The idea of taming an assertive women rubs us the wrong way–so directors try to find ways to moderate the ending.
If you have seen 10 things I Hate about You, you have an idea of the plot–two sisters, the younger one’s desire for love dependent on the older sister’s marriage before she will be free. So curb her independence.
Promo from the RSC: In a reimagined 1590, England is a matriarchy. Baptista Minola is seeking to sell off her son Katherine to the highest bidder. Cue on the explosive battle of the sexes in this electrically charged love story.
Plot summaries of Shakespeare’s plays available on this site–
Shakespeare’s plays
Play two is a Restoration Comedy (1660-1700)–The Provoked Wife. I have just read it–no doubt better in performance. Restoration Comedy is a nice contrast to Shakespeare–more sex, less love; intrigues of upper class nobility–i cite the plot from Wikipedia–
The hitherto virtuous Lady Brute is provoked to infidelity by her sour husband Sir John Brute. Married in haste – she for money, he for sex – the Brutes are shackled by wedlock but looking for diversions. He goes off for a drunken night on the town and ends up before a magistrate, disguised in his wife’s frock. Meanwhile, Lady Brute and her niece Belinda dress as Shepherd Market doxies for a secret tryst with their suitors Heartfree and Constant and are spied on by the envious Lady Fanciful, who wants Heartfree for herself. Belinda, despite interference from Lady Fanciful, wins her man and marries for love. But it ends sadly for the boozy Brute who attempts to rape his wife, discovers two gallants lurking in his wardrobe and finally ends up accepting certain situations rather than rather becoming a human pincushion (i.e., fighting a duel to satisfy his honor).
Monday night is As You Like It–one of the great ones. A strong female assumes male disguise–and attracts the attention of women. See the site above for the plot–and I add my overview of comedy and the play:COMEDY_AYLI
More when we get the London plays.