The Taming of the Shrew (Delacorte) NYC Reviews and Tickets
Show-Score Member Reviews (189)
See it if you enjoy Shakespeare in a contemporary setting, & don't mind that a sharp tongued Katherine is instead a shrieking brat at a loss for words
Don't see it if you enjoy contemporary Shakespeare that celebrates strong female leads, quick wit and insightful humour
See it if Bianca in a beauty pageant hosted by Trump is an enhancement to Shrew. Female cast have fun making social points but don't serve the play.
Don't see it if A short version of Shrew with many rewrites shortchanges all that Shakespeare intended. It's so truncated nothing emotional develops in Kate
See it if You like Shakespeare no matter what they do to it! You like novelty for the sake of novelty.
Don't see it if You want emotional engagement instead of just novelty and spectacle. Ultimately it didn't matter that the cast was all women.
See it if you'd be interested in a feminist take on an essentially anti-feminist play or if you want to see plays that satirize Trump's America.
Don't see it if you care more about quality theatre than theatre trying to make a point with a seemingly-relevant, non-traditional interpretation.
See it if you want to see free theatre.
Don't see it if sexism and racism are real issues for you, because this production somehow makes this play feel more of both.
See it if you have a crush on Cush Jumbo or want to see Judy Gold give dated Vegas-style "women be..." jokes.
Don't see it if you like a director to just tell the story.
See it if You want to spend two hours in a beautiful setting on a beautiful evening and have nothing else to do!
Don't see it if Expect to see traditional Shakespeare. What a mockery ! Shakespeare must be turning in his grave!
See it if you like graduate school concept productions. This is very immature nonsense. Not at all funny and two hours - no intermission.
Don't see it if you'd like to keep 2 hours of your life. This productions made me hate Shakespeare. Awful, indicative acting. No poetry. Just pain.
Critic Reviews (42)
"Despite its all-female cast, Lloyd’s Shrew doesn’t lack sexual sparks, thanks to the two powerhouse British actresses who play the Shrew and her ‘tamer.’…Although Jumbo’s performance is appropriately fiery, commanding, and compelling, in this production it is the tamer, rather than the tamed, who is most beguiling. As Katherina’s gold-digging suitor, then husband, McTeer is this production’s shining and guiding light."
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"Lloyd seems uncertain of her concept in several moments, and relies on other devices to get her message across...In doing so, she makes the play less cohesive...Many directors have found ways around 'The Taming of the Shrew’s' outdated values. While Lloyd’s solution is certainly clever and original, there are as many elements in this production that do not work as those that do. If she truly wanted to make a statement in favor of women’s empowerment, she only partially succeeded."
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