SEQUIM — Young lovers. Buffoons. Servants, masters and sisters: They’re all headed for the stage in “The Taming of the Shrew,” Shakespeare’s comedy brought to life by a cast of more than 35 young people.
“Taming” is Sequim High School’s all-school play opening Friday and running through next weekend, with curtain times at 7 p.m. this Friday and next Friday, Nov. 15; 2 p.m. this Saturday; and finally 7 p.m. next Saturday, Nov. 16.
Tickets at the door of the Sequim High Performing Arts Center, 601 N. Sequim Ave., will be $8 or $6 for seniors and students with Associated Student Body cards.
“The Taming” brings us the wealthy widow Baptista (Courtney Robertson), who has two grown daughters: gentle and beautiful Bianca (Alexandria Seay), who is much sought after by the noblemen of the town, and Katherine (Christie Honore), who is, well, a shrew.
As the oldest, Katherine must marry first. But Bianca’s many suitors (Zachary Campbell, Dylan DePrati, Sam Manders) can’t afford to wait, so they persuade the quick-witted Petruchio (Danny Willis) to take on the challenge of domesticating the sharp-tongued older sister.
Can Petruchio subdue Katherine’s temper — and win her bountiful dowry — along with her love? Or will she continue her shrewish ways?
The players at Sequim High will tell the tale.
Rewarding, challenging
Shakespeare’s language — from 1623 — is “both the most rewarding and challenging part in making this play happen,” said Robin Hall, longtime director of Sequim High’s plays and musicals.
“His words are so rich and descriptive . . . yet the students had to translate what he was saying. We talked a lot about the meaning of each sentence and studied the words, characters and the art of Shakespeare.
“It was a lot of work,” Hall added. “I feel the students have grown so much through this experience.”
Hall and her performers sought to give this “Taming” a commedia dell’arte feel, true to the setting in the Italian city-state of Padua.
“The characters are cleverly written; the show is full of farce,” said the director, adding that “The Taming” is also laced with over-the-top repartee.
Hall is delighted with her teenage cast, which includes Sequim High students Jacob Fink, Hunter Caufmann, Nick Fazio, Victoria Hall, Kaylee Ditlefsen, Colleen Carpenter, Daniel Newell, Seth Mitchell, Jared Kneidl, Alex Law, David Burgher, Emily Funston, Sarah Isenberger, Victoria Cary, Betsy Merrikin, Niki McElhose, Selesha McKibbon, Alison Powell, Hannah Patterson, Yushin Jung, Mykaela Hatton, Erica Chapman, Genevieve King, Summer Day and Allison Cobb.
For information about “The Taming of the Shrew,” phone Hall at 360-460-7860 or Sequim High at 360-582-3600.
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Features Editor Diane Urbani de la Paz can be reached at 360-452-2345, ext. 5062, or at diane.urbani@peninsuladailynews.com.
