BBC adaptation of ‘Taming of the Shrew’

Sally Wainwright’s updated adaptation of this classic Shakespeare play was ingeniously done from beginning to end, reflecting the significant social change brought about by a new surge of feminism. Although it has been significantly modernised to assimilate the modern audience of the twenty-first century, it still keeps the authenticity of the original play so Shakespeare lovers are able to enjoy it as well as a new, younger generation.
When adapting classic plays to appeal to a modern audience, things can quite often go wrong and come across as clichéd, however in the ‘Taming of the Shrew’ it was expertly done. Wainwright managed to capture the true spirit of Shakespeare’s original play effortlessly, including plenty of dramatic scenes throughout leaving the audience feeling sufficiently satisfied. One scene in particular which stood out for me was the honeymoon scene where Kate is stranded with Petruchio in a secluded villa right out in the countryside. The mix of sexual tension between Kate and Petruchio plus the frustration and anger creates a very heated atmosphere as well as a strong and powerful scene as the audience sees Kate’s façade beginning to falter as her truer feelings towards Petruchio start to show. The dark lighting and orange and red tones help aid this scene, enhancing the passion between the two and enabling the audience to feel the sexual desire.
Widely loved actress Shirley Henderson, known to many as Moaning Myrtle, delivered an incredible portrayal of Kate Minola, making her an immediately likeable character from the start. Henderson’s depiction of Kate’s shrewish behaviour was shown in an almost comedic way while still maintaining a completely sombre and believable air to it, enabling the audience to relate to her and take her character seriously. By portraying Kate as a powerful MP who is very work orientated and controlling of her fellow cabinet members, it makes her more relatable to the twenty first century while still keeping in touch with the original play where Kate is wealthy, because of her father, and in control of her life. Although she is more in control of her life and independent in this production, the male dominance still subtlety exists through the external pressures on her to get married and settle down rather than remaining an independent women relying on herself, thus keeping directly in line with the original play and questioning whether perhaps times have changed at all in terms of females being expected to have an equal significant other. Wainright effectively picked up on how in order for Kate to fit into society she needed to marry and adapted it to the modern day. Pertruchio was another character who the audience can’t help but to love despite his outlandish behaviour towards Kate. Rufus Sewell, the genius behind this incredible portrayal of Petruchio, performed as if there were no tomorrow, gripping the audience with every word he spoke and bringing just the right amount of sexual energy to the production to leave us feeling breathless, even managing to look masculine and strong in a skirt and heels!
Debatably one of the finest adaptions of a Shakespeare play to have ever have been made, everything from the flawless acting of the actors to the backdrops and scenery to which the production took place in, has been thoroughly thought out and planned to precision, thus creating a faultless construction of a classic and timeless play.