Jobsite Theater
Tampa, FL
July 21st, 2011
What happens when one daughter is unable to marry until the elder is wed? Create a equivocated ruse of matchmaking to suffice the shrew.
Jobsite Theater brings William Shakespeare's The Taming of the Shrew to life with traditional dialogue, but with subtle differences to give a modern flair. Walking into the theater, the staging resembles and possibly pays homage to the Globe Theater with it's simplicity. Devoid of curtains, props, or any moving parts, the Shimberg Playhouse cleverly reminisces the heyday of Elizabethan drama.
The Taming of the Shrew is a classic tale told over and over again. The story goes that the hand of fair Bianca is unavailable until her older sister Katherina finds a suitable husband. Petruchio courts Kate, however dysfunctionally, and allows the possible suitors of Bianca to begin their courtship.
A highly talented ensemble cast, Jobsite assembles new and old faces to stage the Shakespearean comedy. Shawn Paonessa and Katrina Stevenson perform well as Petruchio and Kate respectively. The remainder of the cast Katie Castonguay, Jon Gennari, Tia Jemison, Spencer Meyers, Jason Evans Amy E. Gray and Michael C. McGreevy each add pieces to this clever comedy with tasteful animations and clear dictions. With language as difficult and complex as Shakespeare can be, I felt Jobsite's cast performed fantastically given the level of aptitude needed. The treat of an ensemble cast is that no single performer shines above the text and each member of Jobsite's crew understands this parable.
Cast of The Taming of the Shrew l to r: Jon Gennari, Jason Evans, Spencer Meyers, Michael C. McGreevy, Katie Castonguay, Amy E. Gray, Tia Jemison, Shawn Paonessa and Katrina Stevenson.
As much as I enjoyed this production, I must clearly state that if you're not ready to listen intently to every word on stage, it may be a long night for you. Yes, Shakespearean language is tough and we're 400 years past its common usage, but the enchantment and density is as vibrant as always. As I mentioned before, the unadorned set and visible dressing area gives the production a unique charm overlooked in modern drama. The production is also presented in two acts which allows the audience a break at intermission to absorb information to continue the show.
All in all, I enjoyed The Taming of the Shrew very much. The substance of the show was exactly what I expected, but the subtle touches of the show such as the visible dressing room, overhead screen shots to dictate scene changes, splitting the show into two acts and filling the audience in of characters changes were all brilliant moves by director David Jenkins and company to make The Taming of the Shrew a wonderful night of theatre. Even if you fell asleep while reading Romeo and Juliet in freshmen English, Jobsite has a way to entertain everyone who comes to see the show.
The Taming of the Shrew plays through August 14th at the Shimberg Playhouse at the David A. Straz Center for Performing Arts. Before the show opened on July 21st, strong ticket sales prompted the powers that be to extend Shrew. By the end of the run, there will be standing room only with a line out the door, so when you're through reading my review, please click here and get your tickets before they sell out.
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Music of the Post - The New Amsterdams
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