The Taming of the Shrew (2017)

Plot Synopsis

Lucentio of Pisa arrives in Padua with his servant Tranio and falls in love with Bianca, but he learns that her father, the wealthy Baptista, will allow no suitors to Bianca until his elder daughter Katherina weds. Baptista vows to keep his daughters at home to study with tutors until they marry. Hortensio and Gremio, two of Bianca’s suitors, decide to find a husband for Kate. Tranio suggests that Lucentio disguise himself as the poetry tutor Cambio in order to woo Bianca, and Tranio will take his place as Lucentio in Padua.

Petruchio and his servant Grumio arrive in Padua. Petruchio visits his friend Hortensio and shares his plans to catch a wealthy wife. Learning of Kate, a woman with a sizable dowry but a sharp tongue, Petruchio decides to pursue her. At Baptista’s house, Petruchio offers Hortensio in disguise as the music tutor Licio. Gremio offers the poetry tutor Cambio, charging him to woo Bianca for Gremio, not knowing that Cambio is Lucentio in disguise, aiming to woo Bianca for himself.

Baptista accepts Petruchio’s bid to marry Kate. On their wedding day, Petruchio is late and stirs up trouble at the ceremony. After the wedding, Petruchio hastily whisks Kate away to his home in Verona. In Padua, Baptista prepares for the wedding of Bianca, now promised to Tranio disguised as Lucentio. Hortensio leaves and plans to marry a wealthy widow. Tranio finds a Pedant to pretend to be Vincentio to bless the marriage of Lucentio and Bianca.

At Petruchio’s house, Kate is starved of food and rest, while Petruchio behaves erratically. Petruchio then tells Kate they will return to Baptista’s house. On the way, Kate vows that she is done fighting and will be a partner to Petruchio, no longer an opponent. On the road, they encounter the real Vincentio, and all travel to Lucentio’s house. The disguised characters meet their counterparts and Vincentio and Baptista meet for the first time.
The confusion is resolved and a wedding feast ensues. Petruchio starts a wager on whose wife is the most obedient, and when Bianca and the widow are sent for, they refuse to come. When Petruchio sends for Kate, she comes, brings the wives and shares her thoughts on wives’ duties to their husbands. The feast ends in merriment as Petruchio has won the bet, and the others marvel at his and Kate’s unconventional union.

-Bianca Gordon, Dramaturg