Taming of the Shrew
By: Kaelyn Pfenning
Issue date: 4/18/07 Section: News
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Staff Writer
The North Greenville University theatre department once again will bring Shakespeare to the stage in the three night performance of The Taming of the Shrew April 18-20 at 8 p.m.
Britney Teie, senior theater, chose to do The Taming of the Shrew as her senior project since she began her theatrical career with a selection from this famous Shakespearean play. The preparations began as far back as last year when Dr. Dale Savidge, chair of the theatre department, began to plan and to research the play.
"Dr. Savidge, my advisor, presented me with a couple different plays that I could choose from for my senior project. I chose The Taming of the Shrew because my first audition monologue I ever did was from The Taming of the Shrew. I thought it would be neat to just come full circle and do the entire production, and I've always loved the show, so I chose the Shrew," said Teie.
After choosing the play and researching it, Britney sat in on and listened to the audition for the various parts. While she made suggestions, Savidge had the final word. Then the work began.
Following a read-through of the entire play, each actor began memorizing and mastering his or her lines. Along with the memorization, blocking or placement on the stage was decided. Practices started around the end of February and eventually individual scenes were performed.
Finally, the cast ran through the entire play last week in preparation for the next three nights. Tonight, Thursday night and Friday night will display the beauty of countless hours of hard work in the final production.
"We take it from a Christian standpoint as far as Katharina and Petruchio relationship, and it's not about her just submitting to him. It's a partnership and it kind of parallels with our relationship with Christ and also with husband and wives in the physical sense. We really try to have those undertones instead of just the battle of the sexes, how it's always portrayed," said Teie.
The Taming of the Shrew displays the largest set that North Greenville University has used in Turner Chapel.
"It's been a huge task for our tech people to work on and build," said Teie.
With support and props from the Greenville Little Theatre, NGU has been able to enlarge the set and put three different scenes on the turntable. Ted Thomas, the technical director of the Greenville Little Theatre, has come to NGU and worked with the theatre department for hours. The size of the set has been the most challenging feature of this year's play.
"The set, first, is just breath-taking. There are so many aspects of it. With the turn table, it's limitless in how many places it can create," said Cora Flottman, junior theater.
While the set makes the play complex, the strength of the actors creates a hardworking team that attains excellence.
"The work ethic of the other actors has been absolutely fantastic. People have been really dedicated to the piece, and they've been very dedicated to studying and learning their roles and knowing their characters," said Flottman.
"Even the supporting roles are done by people who are good enough to do lead roles," said Savidge.
Katherine Cooper, English faculty, is serving as dramaturge for the production and Bronwyn White, theatre instructor, is overseeing the designs.
"Last fall, we did a realistic tragedy which is very dark and very heavy. This play is a ratified comedy so it's much lighter and funnier and faster pace," said Savidge.
The Taming of the Shrew will premiere tonight and run through Friday, April 18 in Turner Chapel.
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