The Taming of the Shrew

Favorite Quotes:

Sly: Am I a lord, an have I such a lady? Or do I dream? Or have I dreamed till now? I do not sleep. I see, I hear, I speak. I smell sweet savours, and I feel soft things. Upon my life, I am a lord indeed, and not a tinker, nor Christopher Sly.

Sly: Come, madam wife, sit by my side and let the world slip. We shall ne'er be younger.

Petruccio (in my favorite mini-speach of all time): Such wind as scatters young men through the world to seek their fortunes farther than at home, where small experience grows. But in a few, Signor Hortensio, thus it stands with me: Antonio, my father, is deceased, and I have thrust myself into this maze happily to wive and thrive as best I may. Crowns in my purse I have, and goods at home, and so am come abroad to see the world.

Petruccio: Where two raging fires meet together they do consume the thing that feeds their fury.

Petruccio: We will have rings, and things, and fine array; and kiss me, Kate. We will be married o' Sunday.

Petruccio: 'Tis the mind tht makes the body rich, and as the sun breaks through the darkest clouds, so honour peereth in the meanest habit.

Lucentio: Love wrought these miracles.

Gremio: My cake is dough, but I'll in among the rest, out of hope of all but my share of the feast.

Widow: He that is giddy thinks the world turns round.

Misogyny and general ridiculousness aside, this play is outrageously great, and I think Petruccio has to get the bulk of the credit. I don't think I've ever read a character before who's so wide-eyed, open, and adventurous while being completely aware of himself and in control of all situations. He's got everything figured out from line one, and he never gets flustered throughout the play. It's impossible to catch this guy off guard. I like that Petruccio has developed some character and self-assurance at home before he goes out to see the world, so he's adding to himself abroad, rather than creating himself. I also like the contrast between Petruccio and Gremio; even though Gremio is older and more established, he's just a confused fool, subject to the actions of others and the tides of fate, while Petruccio uses his smarts and others' weaknesses to create his own reality.

The plays within plays within plays within this play blow my mind. Do we all have to learn to act in order to fulfill different roles in our lives, and are the most successful people just the best actors? What does it mean to be yourself? Are there different versions of yourself, or are you always yourself, or is there no such thing as yourself? Are we what we are or are we what other people think we are? Who are we what we are for? Can you still be guided by strong principles at the same time that you act against them?

So incredible. I love this play because it's going to change the way I think as I walk down the street tomorrow. I will be acting a part, and wondering if anyone will notice, and hoping that everyone else is doing the same.

Not the best of the best, but pretty far up there. Thanks Will, three and three quarter stars out of five.