Shrew of Shanghai
- Source: Global Times
- [13:44 July 06 2010]
- Comments
Han Xiuyi as Kate and Shen Lei as Petruchio. Photo: Courtesy of Shanghai Drama Art Center
By Hu Bei
Shakespeare's The Taming of the Shrew has survived the past 400 years and has become one of the bard's most popular plays, but this version, directed by Paul Stebbings, the artistic director of Britain's The New Theater (TNT), adds a little Shanghai spice to the Elizabethan comedy.
The Taming of the Shrew is one of Shakespeare's most popular plays and is known the world round.
It tells a story that follows the aggressive and bossy bachelorette Katharina and Petruchio who wants to tame the firecracker.
"Shanghai is a typical city of conflict that matches the battle between man and woman, husband and wife. It is an interesting place for Shakespeare's The Taming of the Shrew to be staged," Stebbings said.
This production is set in 1930s Shanghai and Katharina, or Kate, is a "Shanghai princess" from a rich family with all the character's normal wild attributes. Petruchio aims to marry her for a decent dowry.
Kate's younger sister, Bianca, the exact opposite of her sister, is a gentle, lovely girl, and is constantly being chased by a string of would-be husbands.
According to Stebbings, this interpretation of the ancient play invents a whole world of comic characters.
"As well as the lovers Kate and Petruchio, we also have rich old men hopelessly in love with young women, stupid servants who think they are clever and a father who thinks he can control his wayward daughters," he said.
Stebbings also said that in this Chinese version of The Taming of the Shrew, the music will be live versions of original 1930s music.
"Since I have been in China either working or traveling for more than 20 years, the music project represents my long fascination with the country and its culture, and it will also highlight this Chinese version of the ancient play," Stebbings explained.
Adding to the funny characters and live music, the actors will be wearing long gowns and qipao rather than Elizabethan costumes.
"The great thing about Shakespeare is that you don't necessarily damage his work by exploring new things," Stebbings said.
"We have an entire new scene, but we still kept the best ideas and the original structure of Shakespeare. It is really a classical comedy, but it is important to remember that just because something is funny does not mean it is not profound."
In Stebbings' opinion, The Taming of the Shrew asks serious questions about men and women.
"It can be seen as the opposite of the love between Romeo and Juliet. In this play, hatred turns to love and conflict is resolved in mutual anger."
Stebbings added that this production would not remove the sexism and misogyny found running through Shakespeare's original play.
He said: "Although Kate's cruel humiliations and abject surrender in the end sounds especially unacceptable in today's modern society, this play is still what it is. It expresses an idea of a society where men and women are not equal, and where order is achieved through hierarchy. In our version, we will try to show what happens when that sort of society exists, to play the misogyny and cruel comedy to the hilt."
Han Xiuyi, the actress who will be playing Kate, said: "Kate is a woman who has a very strong character, and she meets her husband, a man who is even stronger than her."
