THEATER IN AMERICA: TAMING OF THE SHREW (TV)
Summary
One in this series of dramatic arts programs, presented under the umbrella of Great Performances. Host Hal Holbrook introduces William Shakespeare's battle-of-the-sexes comedy, performed by the American Conservatory Theatre of San Francisco.
Taped before a live audience, the play is presented in the style of Italy's commedia dell'arte. In Part One, Baptista, a wealthy resident of Padua, Italy, deflects suitors for the hand of his youngest daughter, the sweet and lovely Bianca. Baptista insists on first marrying off his eldest daughter, the pretty but foul-tempered Katherina, known to villagers as Kate the cursed. The gallant Petruchio arrives from Verona to see his friend, Hortensio, who is among those enamored of Bianca. Telling Petruchio of Kate's dowry, Hortensio convinces him to court the shrew. In the meantime, rich Lucentio arrives in Padua and is smitten with Bianca. He disguises himself as a teacher and becomes her tutor.
When Kate meets Petruchio, it's hate at first sight and she tries to put off his attempts at marriage. He persists and sets a date for the ceremony. The two are wed, at which point Petruchio begins to act like a brute. In Part Two, the pair are living in Petruchio's house, where he makes Kate go hungry, won't let her sleep and dresses her in rags -- all in an attempt to teach her manners. Ultimately, Kate and Petruchio both come to love and respect the other, with Kate proving a model wife at the wedding of Lucentio and Bianca.
At the play's conclusion, director William Ball is interviewed by Harold Clurman.
Cataloging of this program was made possible by the Corporation for Public Broadcasting.
Details
- NETWORK: PBS WNET New York, NY
- DATE: November 10, 1976 9:00 PM
- RUNNING TIME: 1:57:52
- COLOR/B&W: Color
- CATALOG ID: T:58747
- GENRE: Drama
- SUBJECT HEADING: Drama
- SERIES RUN: PBS - TV series, 1974-1979
- COMMERCIALS: N/A
CREDITS
- Jac Venza … Executive Producer
- James B. McKenzie … Executive Producer
- Ken Campbell … Producer
- Charlene Harrington … Associate Producer
- Kirk Browning … Director
- William Ball … Director
- William Shakespeare … Writer
- Lee Hoiby … Music by
- Hal Holbrook … Host
- Harold Clurman … Interviewer
- William Ball … Guest
- Raye Birk … Cast, Gremio
- Earl Boen … Cast, Pedant
- Ronald Boussom (See also: Ron Boussom) … Cast, Grumio
- Barbara Dirickson … Cast, Sugarsop
- Bobby F. Ellerbee … Cast, Haberdasher
- Harry Hamlin … Cast, Mariamo
- Rick Hamilton … Cast, Tranio
- Charles Hyman … Cast, Camellio
- Daniel Kern … Cast, Biondello
- Michael Keys-Hall … Cast, Emilio
- Deborah May … Cast, Widow
- Fredi Olster … Cast, Katherina
- William Paterson … Cast, Baptista
- Stephen St. Paul (See also: Stephen Schnetzer) … Cast, Lucentio
- Sandra Shotwell … Cast, Bianca
- Marc Singer … Cast, Petruchio
- Al White … Cast, Nathaniel
- Laird Williamson … Cast, Vincentio
- James R. Winkler (See also: James Winkler) … Cast, Hortensio
- Daniel Zippi … Cast, Tailor
- Frank Abe … Cast, Clown
- Tomas Arana … Cast, Clown
- Lynn Butler … Cast, Clown
- Melodie Butler … Cast, Clown
- Peter Davies … Cast, Clown
- Nancy Erskine … Cast, Clown
- Suzanne Fry … Cast, Clown
- Marc Hayashi … Cast, Clown
- Joy Juvelis … Cast, Clown
- Rodney Kageyama … Cast, Clown
- David Kudler … Cast, Clown
- Eric Nelson … Cast, Clown
- John Salat … Cast, Clown
- Suzie Smith … Cast, Clown
- Jean Trounstine … Cast, Clown
- Althea Watson … Cast, Clown
- Susan Westerman … Cast, Clown
- Kathy Wong … Cast, Clown