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Overview
Synopsis
Modest and beautiful young Bianca is the most coveted young maiden in Padua...but no one can marry her before a match is found for her wild, willful, “shrewish” older sister, Kate. Kate has tormented and frightened every man who dared to dance her way, and Bianca and her suitors have nearly given up hope. That is, until Petruchio comes to town. When a team of Bianca’s suitors bribe Petruchio to try his hand at marrying Kate, he is eager for the challenge – and to get his hands on Kate’s considerable dowry. As maddeningly strong-willed as Kate herself, Petruchio is determined that he can “tame” this shrew. What ensues is one of Shakespeare’s most outrageous comedies, in which two misfits who have never compromised in their lives take a riotous journey towards becoming each other’s perfect match.
Show Information
- Book
- William Shakespeare
- Category
- Play
- Age Guidance
- Youth (Y)/General Audiences (G)
- Number of Acts
- 5
- First Produced
- 1591
- Genres
- Comedy, Romance
- Settings
- Multiple Settings, Period
- Time & Place
- padua, italy, time unspecified
- Cast Size
- large
- Licensor
- None/royalty-free
- Ideal For
- College/University, Ensemble Cast, Large Cast, Mostly Male Cast, Professional Theatre, Regional Theatre, Star Vehicle Female, Star Vehicle Male, Includes Young Adult, Adult, Late Teen, Mature Adult, Elderly Characters
Context
The Taming of the Shrew features a framing induction that does not return at the end of the play. In a version of the story entitled The Taming of a Shrew, believed to be a badly bootlegged copy of Shakespeare’s play, however, the framing device returns at the end. Some productions have incorporated these scenes into productions of Shakespeare’s play, though there is no evidence that Shakespeare wrote these scenes.
There are numerous film adaptations of The Taming of the Shrew
to read the context for The Taming of the Shrew and to unlock other amazing theatre resources!Plot
Induction, Scene 1
Christopher Sly is being kicked out of the Alehouse by the Hostess for being belligerent and breaking glasses. She tells him to leave and he refuses, so she goes to fetch a constable to get rid of him. Sly falls asleep outside the alehouse.
A Lord and First Huntsmen enter arguing about what hunting dog is better. The lord sees Sly passed out in front of the alehouse and decides to play a trick on him. He tells his servants to take him home, place him in bed, and when he
to read the plot for The Taming of the Shrew and to unlock other amazing theatre resources!Characters
| Name | Part Size | Gender | Vocal Part |
|---|---|---|---|
|
Lead |
Female |
Non-singer |
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Lead |
Male |
Non-singer |
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Supporting |
Male |
Spoken |
|
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Supporting |
Male |
Spoken |
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Supporting |
Male |
Spoken |
|
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Supporting |
Male |
Spoken |
|
|
Supporting |
Male |
Non-singer |
|
|
Supporting |
Female |
Non-singer |
|
|
Supporting |
Male |
Non-singer |
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Supporting |
Male |
Non-singer |
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|
Featured |
Male |
Spoken |
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Featured |
Male |
Spoken |
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Featured |
Male |
Spoken |
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Featured |
Male |
Spoken |
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Featured |
Male |
Spoken |
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Featured |
Male |
Spoken |
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Featured |
Male |
Spoken |
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Featured |
Male |
Spoken |
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Featured |
Male |
Spoken |
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Featured |
Male |
Spoken |
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|
Featured |
Either Gender |
Spoken |
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|
Featured |
Female |
Spoken |
|
|
Featured |
Female |
Spoken |
|
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Featured |
Male |
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Featured |
Male |
Spoken |
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Featured |
Male |
Spoken |
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|
Ensemble |
Either Gender |
|
Songs
A song with an asterisk (*) before the title indicates a dance number; a character listed in a song with an asterisk (*) by the character's name indicates that the character exclusively serves as a dancer in this song, which is sung by other characters.
Monologues
Scenes
Key Terms
Farewell
A reference, usually implied, to a literary or historical person, place, event, or idea.
Wish mischief or bad luck upon someone or something
Scorn, rebuke, or reprove
Opinion, judgment, or idea
Disguise or deceive
Take off
Referring to life in England under the reign of Queen Elizabeth I, 1558-1603.
Beautiful
Temperament, mood
A type of verse with ten syllables per line and syllables alternating between unstressed and stressed beats.
A scoundrel; a young man or boy; a servant
(verb) Join together; also used as an exclamation meaning "by Mary"
An adjective meaning suitable
Please, I ask of you
Temper; depending on the circumstances can refer to irritability or amusement
Videos
Quizzes
Themes, Symbols & Motifs
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Quote Analysis
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