Wyoming Shakespeare Festival Company is offering a unique opportunity to learn everything there is to know in order to perform Shakespeare’s brilliant plays in 90 minutes.
Along with this free workshop the Lander based acting company will celebrate its sixteenth year of presenting classical theater to audiences throughout Wyoming, with “The Taming of the Shrew” by William Shakespeare.
The free performance presented by the Community Fine Arts Center will be in Bunning Park on Friday, July 17 at 6 p.m. The public is invited to bring their picnic dinners, blankets or lawn chairs to enjoy an evening of theatre.
One of Shakespeare’s best known comedies, “The Taming of the Shrew” is believed to have been written between 1590 and 1592. The play begins with a mischievous nobleman tricking a drunken tinker to believe he is actually a nobleman himself. The nobleman then has the play performed for the tinker’s diversion.
The main plot depicts the courtship of Petruchio and Katherina, the headstrong, unyielding shrew. Initially, Katherina is an unwilling participant in the relationship, but Petruchio works various psycho-logical ploys -- the “taming” -- until she becomes a compliant and obedient bride.
The subplot features a competition between the suitors of Katherina’s more desirable sister, Bianca. The play’s apparent disregard for women has become the subject of considerable controversy, particularly among modern scholars, audiences and readers.
According to Wikipedia, “Taming” has been adapted numerous times for stage, screen, opera, ballet, and musical theatre.
Perhaps the most famous adaptations being Cole Porter’s “Kiss Me, Kate” and the 1967 film of the play, starring Elizabeth Taylor and Richard Burton. The 1999 high school comedy film “10 Things I Hate About You” is also loosely based on the play. The workshop is for ages nine to 19 years of age and will start at 3 p.m. before the evening performance. Preregistration is required as there is a limit of 25 participants.
According to the workshop description, it will begin with exercises to physically enter a state of readiness, a presence with the other actors. Breathing and vocalizing exercises will open the voices range. Next the characters and plot will be introduced; everyone taking a turn playing them.
“A speech of Kate and/or Petruchio will be used to stretch the actor’s capacity and shift out of habitual patterns to one more suited to the thoughts and feelings of Shakespeare’s character. Finally, we will experiment with focus, energy and owning every word and image. All adds up to heightened, great theater. It will lift you up.”
“Whether one is completely unfamiliar with Shakespeare, or a seasoned classical actor, the workshop promises an enthusiastic boost to your inner and outer player,” WSFC director Diane Springford.
The WSFC is also supported by grants from the Wyoming Arts Council and National Endowment of the Arts.
The public is invited to this free performance July 17 in Bunning Park and to also see the current exhibit at the CFAC of Sheridan artist Dianne Wyatt’s pastel paintings as well as the permanent collection owned by Sweetwater County School District No. 1.
Reader Comments(0)