Synopsis TNT version (pre-rehearsal). 2006
THE TAMING OF THE SHREW
Induction scene: outside a modern pub Sly, a poor drunk, argues with the pub's landlady and then passes out. Spotted in his drunken state of unconsciousness, a passing group of modern day hunters decide to play a joke on him. Back in the smart home of one of the wealthy hunters, Sly has been dressed in fashionable clothes and is convinced by the hunters' grooms that he is a wealthy man recovering from a period of madness where he believed himself to be Sly, a poor drunk. Sly becomes convinced, even by one of the male grooms dressed up as his wife. Overcome by this discovery, Sly is told he must rest and he settles down to watch a historical drama on the widescreen TV in his room. He once more falls asleep and begins to dream. The dream:
Act 1
Scene 1:
In a magical, colourful Renaissance Padua, a student, Lucentio, complains of the time he is wasting in his studies and how he wants to practice the philosophy of pleasure. Through his study window, he sees a beautiful young woman, Bianca, and falls in love. Bianca is with her father, Baptista, and two suitors – an old man Gremio and a young man Hortensio. The hopes of the two suitors are seemingly dashed when Baptista announces that one of them can marry Bianca only when they have secured a husband for his other daughter, Katherina, who is a "shrew", combative, strong-willed and argumentative. Katherina is furious that a marriage of any kind might be arranged for her, so any wedding to Bianca is off until Katherina can be persuaded to change her mind. Bianca is to return to her musical and other studies. Gremio and Hortensio agree to join forces to get Katherina a husband. Lucentio vows to disguise himself as a music teacher and gain access to Bianca in order to secretly woo her.
Scene 2:
A flashback in which we see a great sea battle (piracy pretending to be war) between Italian troops led by Petruchio, (an overblown and self-exaggerating soldier), and Turks. In the battle Petruchio and his men defeat the Turks, but then accidentally drop the Turks' gold into the sea. Petruchio horrified and impoverished. (Sly appears in his own dream as Petruchio.)
Petruchio arrives in Padua with his servant, Grumio – arguing furiously and nonsensically with Grumio. Petruchio is met by Hortensio, who explains to him the opportunity to woo Katherina and win her dowry (a gift of money promised by Baptista to whoever will be Katherina's husband) . Petruchio is ready for the challenge, not put off by Katherine's reputation, and interested in the money. They exit.
Gremio and Lucentio, Lucentio now as a schoolmaster (unbeknown to Gremio), to gain access to Bianca. Hortensio explains to Gremio that he has found someone who will woo Katherina. Petruchio is introduced to Gremio and is contemptuous of the problems Gremio suggests he might have with Katherina.
Act 2
Scene 1:
In Baptista's house, Katherina is spitefully bullying her sister Bianca, blaming Bianca for the men's efforts to find a husband for Katherina. Baptista enters and chastises Katherina and sends Bianca to her studies.
Gremio enters with Lucentio, disguised as a Latin teacher and also with Hortensio, also disguised as a music teacher. Petruchio enters with them and is introduced to Baptista and Petruchio explains his interest in Katherina. Baptista welcomes Petruchio, recognising his family. Baptista sends Lucentio and Hortensio (both disguised) off to teach his daughters, but soon Hortensio is back – Katherina has broken a lute over his head. Petruchio is all the more determined.
Petruchio is left alone and Katherina enters. Immediately he engages her in a battle of words, seeking to better her in everything she says. There's a verbal combat of wordplay, Petruchio making fun of katherina's reputation and saying she is not half the shrew she was supposed to be, but "passing gentle".
Baptista and Gremio re-enter to see how Petruchio is getting on. Katherina's spirit has not been broken, but Petruchio tells the men to be patient, for while in public may be shrewish in private she has declared her love for him and they will be married shortly – and sets the date!! Katherina storms off. Hortensio (out of disguise) argues with Gremio over who is to have Bianca for a wife – Baptista says he will choose whoever offers the most money for her ("greatest dower").
Act 3
Scene 1:
In Baptista's house Hortensio and Lucentio attempt to woo Bianca (while both in disguise as teachers). Lucentio is much the more successful of the two, managing to express his love between his teaching. Bianca is attracted to him, and echoes his feelings. Hortensio's wooing is rebuffed. Hortensio is very suspicious of the disguised Lucentio.
Scene 2:
This is the day when Petruchio and Katherina are due to be wed. Baptista enters with Katherina, Gremio, Bianca, and Lucretio (in disguise) – but there is no sign of Petruchio, humiliating Katherina even more than before - publicly. Hortensio arrives to announce that Petruchio is on his way, but dressed for his wedding in eccentric and provocative rags, his servant Grumio dressed like a horse. Petruchio enters, as if on horseback, carried by Grumio. Despite this Baptista still welcome him as Katherina's bridegroom. Petruchio insists that this is how he will be married. All set off to the wedding.
The wedding is performed – Petruchio behaving scandalously - hitting the priest and passionately kissing Katherina.
The wedding party emerges, but rather than celebrate Petruchio announces that he is leaving. At first Katherina refuses to accompany him. But with drawn sword Grumio, and Petruchio, take Katherina away.
Bianca believes 'mad' Katherina is well suited to a 'mad' Petruchio. Not realising that Bianca's affections lie elsewhere, Baptista suggests that Hortensio and Bianca replace the real bridegroom and bride at the wedding feast.
Act 4
Scene 1:
Petruchio's military camp. Grumio is found complaining to another servant, Curtis, of the woes of serving Petruchio. We see, acted out, Grumio's tale of how Katherina has fallen from her horse, fought with Petruchio, Grumio has been beaten, and how all their horses ran away.
Petruchio enters, shouting at his servants. Katherina tries to defend the servants. Petruchio refuses the dinner and calls Katherina to bed, hungry. We see Petruchio taking Katherina to bed, where he is bad tempered and unreasonable until she falls asleep from exhaustion. Petruchio confides in the audience that this is all part of his plan.
Scene 2:
Gremio and Hortensio (in disguise) enter. Gremio is surprised to hear that Bianca has fallen for someone else. They observe Bianca enter with the disguised Lucentio - clearly infatuated, in love with each other. Hortensio reveals his true identity to Gremio – and he and Gremio swear to abandon any interest in Bianca, Hortensio saying that he will now marry a wealthy widow who has been pursuing him. Lucentio – who has been eavesdropping on Gremio and Hortensio – reveals this to Bianca, and now they can wed, thanks to Petruchio. But Bianca reacts badly at Lucentio's apparent admiration of Petruchio's 'taming' of Katherina. Bianca reveals that she does not approve of such behaviour and shows the first signs that she may have some of her sister's temperament. Lucentio tells Bianca that now he must disguise himself as his own father (Vincentio) in order to let Baptista know that he, Lucentio, is wealthy, and thus get Baptista to give permission for him to marry Bianca. He sends Bianca away, but she is not very happy about her dismissal. After a moment's uncertainty (about his own legitimacy! - he does not resemble his father), Lucentio sets off to make his disguise.
Scene 3:
In a military camp. Katherina is being kept without food – treated worse than a beggar, she says – and even deprived of sleep. Grumio has been sent by Petruchio to to bait Katherina, seeming to offer her food and then withdraw the offer. Petruchio enters with food, he forces Katherina to thank him humbly before giving her the food, but when she does he gives it to Grumio instead. A tailor enters with hat and gown for Katherina, dressing Katherina according to Petruchio's orders, but Petruchio even terrorises the tailor. Once he has dressed her – most eccentrically, Petruchio declares that it is time to take Katherina to her father's.
Back in Padua, Lucentio, undisguised, enters and approaches the passing Baptista. He asks for Bianca's hand in marriage and assures Baptista that he comes from a wealthy family. Baptista recognises the name of Vincentio, Lucentio's father, as that of a wealthy man, but he wants a direct assurance that he can secure a large payment to Baptista (a "dower") for Bianca. Lucentio outbids Gremio's offer, but Baptista still requires Lucentio's father's assurance before he will give his permission, leaving Lucentio with his demand. Lucentio is downhearted, but he still has a chance if he will disguise himself.
Scene 4:
Baptista re-enters, shortly pursued by Lucentio now in disguise as his father, Vincentio. He offers to make the assurance of a large dower in exchange for Bianca. They arrange to sign the necessary documents at Baptista's house. When Baptista goes Lucentio removes his disguise – he has arranged to have a priest waiting at the church so he and Bianca can be married before anyone discovers his deceptions. Lucentio leaves, a doubt about his actions has entered his mind.
Scene 5:
On the road to Padua, Petruchio, Katherina and Grumio have stopped. Petruchio forces Katherina to call the sun the moon, and when she does he rebukes her and demands she see it is the sun. Katherina has been broken. She will agree whatever Petruchio asks. Now even Grumio calls on his master to stop: "The field is won." They are about to continue for Padua when along the road, heading for Padua, comes the real Vincentio, Lucentio's father. At first Petruchio, in his usually perverse way, greets Vincentio as if he were a young woman. And Katherina joins in the sport. Petruchio then rebukes her for not recognising that this is an old man. Vincentio is rather baffled by all this – but explains that he is going to Padua to find his son, Lucentio. Petruchio offers to take Vincentio to his son and they all set off for Padua together.
Act 5
Scene 1:
Petruchio, Katherina, Vincentio and Grumio arrive at Lucentio's lodgings. Lucentio and Bianca are seen by the audience at an upper window, half undressed. They have just been married and have been caught in bed. Lucentio sees Vincentio and realises that he will be caught out unless he does something – so he puts on his disguise as Vincentio and appears. The two men are now dressed identically. And when Lucentio, in disguise, declares that he, not Vincentio, is Lucentio's father, Petruchio jumps to the wrong conclusion and accuses Vincentio of being an impersonator! Lucentio, in disguise, joins in the accusations against the unfortunate Vincentio. Chaos ensues and Petruchio and Katherina withdraw to a vantage point where they watch how this plays out. Baptista enters, attracted by the uproar, At first Lucentio tries to keep up his deception, but realises that he is only getting himself into deeper and deeper trouble – as Baptista is on the point of sending Vincentio to jail on evidence from Petruchio, Lucentio is forced to reveal his true identity. Vincentio misunderstands what has happened, thinking that Lucentio has just arrived, and searches for the impersonator. Baptista is also shocked, realising that Lucentio was the music tutor. Lucentio attempts to pass this off as "miracles", but Baptista has guessed that Lucentio has married Bianca secretly and now takes Lucentio off, preparing to explain to Vincentio what has happened and to punish Lucentio. Lucentio, unconfidently, assures Bianca that her father will not be angry. Katherina and Petruchio, amused and brought together by these events, resolve to follow and observe how things work out. But not before they kiss – Katherina, for the first time, showing real affection for Petruchio.
Scene 2:
Lucentio enters with a black eye and his arm in a sling and bandages after being beaten by Baptista and Vincentio –the last part of this beating is still in progress as they all enter. Baptista and Vincentio then start to fight each other and have to be separated – the two exit still fighting. Bianca, Petruchio and Katherina enter. Hortensio enters with a Widow – who is bad-tempered - the two just married. Lucentio makes the wedding speech, doing his best to sound happy. Petruchio heckles. Katherina and the Widow clash, Katherina urged on by Petruchio. Bianca, Katherina and the Widow exit together. Petruchio laughs at Hortensio for failing to win Bianca, but Hortensio laughs at Petruchio only getting a "shrew". Petruchio bets both Hortensio and Lucentio that he has the most obedient wife. And, sure enough, when a servant is sent to fetch the women, the Widow and Bianca send excuses, but Katherina comes immediately, saying that the other two are sitting, talking, by the fire. Katherina fetches Bianca and the Widow and, at Petruchio's request, Katherina lectures the other two women on their obligations as a wife – to serve and not to rule, to be "soft" and not to imitate men – husbands are the kings of their families, each family an image of the wider social order. But she offers her hand to trod on by Petruchio this is enough and he raises her to kiss her and they go "to the marriage bed". But we also see that Katharina has been arming Petruchio for a return to war. This is the type of society that emerges when women "stand by their man" in any circumstances.
Finale
Sly awakes from his dream and finds himself, dumped in the road, outside the pub. He is found by the pub's landlady, just as he awakes. Sly realises that it has all been a dream. But tells the landlady he has nothing to fear when he gets home to his wife, for his dream has taught him how to 'tame a shrew'. But his wife appears, a terrifying figure with a rolling pin, roaring "Sly!"
Note: Text for finale from the quarto TAMING OF A SHREW
