Reviews

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Coral Springs High School began their production of “Taming of the
Shrew” in an
unusually intimate setting with the audience only a few feet from the
stage,
featuring “theater -in-the-round” seating.



“Taming of the Shrew” was written by William Shakespeare and is thought
to be
written around 1593. The show ran on Broadway for 129 performances in
1935 by
the Theater Guild. The story pertains to a wealthy man’s two daughters;
the
sweet-tempered Bianca, and the shrew, Katherine. Three men wish to
pursue
Bianca, but her father, Baptista, decrees that she shall not be wed
until his
eldest daughter Katherine is married. A traveler named Petruchio hears
this news
and the promise of a generous dowry and decides he will woo and marry
the
hot-tempered Kate.



Coral Springs High’s production was full of interesting choices in set
and
seating. With an odd stationary resturant style set, complete with
“Employee’s
Only” and “Restrooms” signs gave a very modern feel to a non-modern
play.
However, the seating was quite enjoyable, being on the stage itself, as
it would
be similar in the Globe Theater itself.



Chad Blum played a delightful Petruchio, showing excellent character
development
and devotion. Aislyn Powell, was great in the role of the fiery,
shrewish
Katherine. The two had great stage presence, demanding your attention
each time
one entered, and terrific chemistry.



Christopher Sly, played by Lindsay Leech was hilarious, often bringing
the
audience to tears with laughter when viewing her interaction with
certain
audience members. She said little, but had a big impact on the
performance. The
rest of the supporting cast including Robert Jackson as Lucentio, Paula
Rubman
as Bianca, and Meghan Hahl as Grumio delivered adequate performances
and added a
lot to the play with their unique styles and delivery.



The technical aspects of the production were minimal. The costumes were
quite
fun, with brightly colored materials. The make-up was nice, even
transforming
the mostly female cast into men with almost believable painted-on
facial hair.



Clocking at 2 hours, “Taming of the Shrew” is a challenging play to
deliver, and
Coral Springs High School gave an enjoyable performance of it.

by Amber Anderson of Coconut Creek HS

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To take a play that has been around since 1594 and make it work as
something
very original is no easy task. There is the constant question of how to
change
Shakespeare without changing the emotion and drive put into every
Shakespearean
play. Coral Springs High School took on this mission with their fall
production
of "Taming of the Shrew".



"Taming of the Shrew" is a sardonic play exemplifying the ‘need’ to
break a
strong-willed woman and the desire of a father to make a ‘fair trade’
for his
daughters. Baptista (William Segal) is a single father raising two
entirely
different daughters. Katherine (Aislyn Powell), don’t call her Kate, is
a loud,
angry, rude young woman who refuses to allow anyone to see her soft
underbelly.
Her younger sister, Bianca (Paula Rubman), is a soft-spoken, sweet and
gentle-willed young lady who doesn’t understand the negativity felt by
her
sibling. All will be torn apart and shifted towards a broken ending
when
Petruchio (Chad Blum) shows up and proves that a man can break even the
hardiest
of women.



Powell really shone in the role of the fierce, boisterous Katherine of
Padua.
Blum picked right up on that note and matched Katherine harsh line for
rude
tone. Powell and Blum’s energy reflected off one another the entire
play,
captivating the attention of everyone, even Christopher Sly (Lindsey
Leach).



Sly is a drunk and the bane of the bar’s Hostess’ (Briana Rittersporn)
existence. When her friends return from putting on a performance of the
same
play, she suggests they pull a trick on the alcoholic in their midst.
Leach,
although a female, acts terrifyingly well as a perverted, inebriated
man,
sporting a stained wife beater, Bennett Auto Supply cap and a
Confederate belt
buckle. During the whole play Leach is engaged in everyone’s
conversations and
makes the scene changes something to look forward to as (s)he hits on
young
ladies in the crowd and acts, well, Sly.



The Shakespearean language is one that is hard to master, and this show
had its
share of bad enunciation and poor communication skills, but it made up
for it in
the actor’s emotional commitment to their lines and the dedication in
every
monologue. (When Powell gave her speech as a broken women, I felt the
injustice
of a ‘woman’s place’).



The set was simple, but created the feeling of a desolate bar and let
the
audience’s attention focus on the characters instead of the scenery.
Sound and
lights were both executed flawlessly and helped keep the aura of
Shakespearean
times.



This tale of woe and loss was done in a very mature light, Coral Spring
High’s
Taming of the Shrew was very original and engaging.



by Alexandra Rosenberg of Deerfield Beach High School

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Drunken brawls, crude gestures and the archetypal barroom hubbub were
not
uncommon in Shakespeare's Globe theatre as groundlings shared their
floor space
to enjoy a bawdy theatrical event. Set in a modern bar with an adapted
Christopher Sly, Coral Springs High School expanded this concept of
groundling
entertainment with their production of "The Taming of the Shrew".



First performed in 1594, "The Taming of the Shrew" revolves around the
bitter
Katherine, whose scathing tongue and violent reactions earn her the
title of
Padua's resident shrew. After her father decrees that Bianca will not
marry
until Katherine is wed, a visitor named Petruchio decides he will be
the first
to tame the shrew through various misogynistic means and receive her
immense
dowry.



The cast of "The Taming of the Shrew" worked effectively with the
barroom
concept and moved without trepidation in their theatre-in-the-round
space.



Through her screaming fits of enragement and threatening stance, Aislyn
Powell
performed with notable panache as the sharp-tongued Katherine. Her
physical
chemistry with Petruchio (Chad Blum) lended to the play's most
captivating
scenes as both struggled for dominance.



Another prominent performance was that of Lindsey Leach, whose drunken
revelry
as Christopher Sly served as a source of entertainment during scene
changes
through her audience interaction, suggestive winks, and inebriated
staggering.
As the comic servant Grumio, Megan Hahl also evoked laughter through
both her
physical humor and lucid understanding of Shakespeare's dialogue.
Although some
actors seemed to forget lines and others were exaggerated in their
characterizations, most actors effectively conveyed their characters
through
clear diction.



The student designed and constructed set was functional and transformed
the
setting of the play from that of a duke's home to the saloon from which
Christopher Sly was first driven out. Although the set seemed to lack
detail,
the restroom sign on a flat and the use of set props were effective
enough to
present one of Shakespeare's universal plays that never require a set.



Coral Spring High School's production of the "Taming of the Shrew"
integrated a
modern day bar, a rowdy Christopher Sly and Shakespearean dialogue to
create a
memorable performance.





by Anna Tenutta of Deerfield Beach High School

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Shakespeare: The classic playwright, a common feat for high school
production.
Coral Springs High School’s recent production of “The Taming of the
Shrew”, one
of Shakespeare’s comedies, while highly unorthodox, maintained the
essence and
quality of the play, while entertaining the modern audience.



Katherine, the older, more shrill, and more stubborn Baptista daughter,
has yet
to find a husband. Until she does, her younger, more desirable sister
Bianca
will be unavailable to the many suitors waiting to sweep her away. “The
Taming
of the Shrew” follows Petruchio, Katherine’s only suitor, in his
attempts to
first woo and then tame Katherine’s wild temperament, transforming her
into the
ideal wife of Shakespearean times.



Aislyn Powell portrayed the headstrong Katherine, conquering the
difficult task
of commanding the stage with irrational anger, contempt, and sarcasm.
Also
notable was Chad Blum as Petruchio. Blum and Powell had outstanding
chemistry,
with the banter, both verbal and physical, entertaining and engaging
the
audience.



“The Taming of the Shrew” is foremost a comedy, and featured in this
production
was a wealth of ability. Corie Clements portrayed Biondello, a
delightful
addition to the ensemble. Clements used an almost cartoon-like
innocence to add
humor to her role, with strong but frivolous body language and line
delivery.



Overall, the ensemble of the production was strong, with only a few
problems
with the clarity of line delivery.



The performance was through a “theatre in the round” setting,
reminiscent of
Shakespeare’s own Globe Theatre. The set, fashioned to look like a
dingy bar,
provided not only an excellent contrast for the bright, detailed, and
classical
costumes, but a portrayal of “The Taming of the Shrew” unlike any
other.
Lighting and sound were of acceptable quality, taking a minimalist
approach to
production.



As this production featured many cross-gender roles, Paula Rubman’s
effective
makeup design is worth of mention. Rubman provided the females who
portrayed men
with beards and the older characters with wrinkles, with a nearly
professional
quality result.



While Katherine resigned herself to being the socially acceptable yet
subservient wife or the late 1500s, Coral Springs High School will not
settle
with ordinary fate, evident in their production of William
Shakespeare’s “The
Taming of the Shrew”.



by Caroline Sileo of Deerfield Beach High School

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Abuse, violence, and a love story- what more could one expect of
Shakespeare?
Thursday night, Coral Springs High School offered their own
interpretation of
Shakepeare's "The Taming of the Shrew."



"The Taming of the Shrew" was one of Shakespeare’s earliest plays. The
conceit
was written as a play within a play; intended to confuse the drunk,
Christopher
Sly. This concept is often vacated in productions because of the little
significance it holds in the overall development of the plot; however
the
inclusion of this plot in the production by Coral Springs High provided
comedic
relief during scene changes, as well as throughout the play. The play
performed
for Sly revolves around ‘taming’ Katherine, a woman no man can handle
or marry.
Katherine must be wedded in order for suitors to be able to wed Bianca,
Katherine’s beautiful younger sister.



Taking place in a bar, an appropriate setting for the introduction of
Christopher Sly, provided a twist to a story which practices slapstick
humor.
The simplistic set, lighting, and sound allowed the audience to
concentrate on
the detailed costumes and actions of the characters.



Aislyn Powell (Katherine) convincingly portrayed a rowdy woman who did
not
listen to anybody. She was noticeably tamed; the contrast between her
uncontrollable and abiding self was drastic and plausible. Chad Blum
(Petruchio)
was able to express his Shakespearean lines with his actions, a task
which was
not always accomplished by his fellow cast mates. His violence and
slapstick
methods were never too exaggerated for his character.



Corle Clements (Biondello) sweetly portrayed an obedient, bubbly
follower. All
of her mannerisms, including her tone of voice, reflected those of her
character, showing that she truly embodied Biondello. Lindsey Leach
(Christopher
Sly) stayed in character throughout the production, not only reacting
to
everything the actors were saying but also providing consistent comedic
effort,
an enjoyable break during scene changes.



Though the technical aspects of the show were simplistic, they did add
to the
show because they did not detract any attention from the actors.
Everything on
stage had a purpose and was used.



Coral Spring High School's "The Taming of the Shrew" was a production
which
allowed the audience to understand Shakespeare's language, all the
while still
being relevant to mondern-day actions.



by Dana Nieuwkerk of Deerfield Beach High School

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“How do I hate thee, let me count the ways…” On November 8th, 2007
Coral Springs
High School performed a capturing performance of “Taming of the Shrew”,
written
by William Shakespeare, Directed by Laurel Holland. It is believed that
The
Taming of the Shrew was first performed between 1593 and 1594, back in
the
Elizabethan era.



The play starts off in a local bar where Christopher Sly (Lindsey
Leach)
stumbles in and the bartender has the cast from a local theater to
perform an
encore of their show. In which, Bianca’s (Paula Rubman) father insists
that she
will not marry until Katherine (Alslyn Powell) is betrothed. The
suitors pay for
any costs involved and there is also the goal of Katherine’s dowry.
Then she
meets Petruchio (Chad Blum) and they are to be married. After being
with
Petruchio and everything he’s done to her she starts agreeing and
pleasing her
husband, she now has been tamed. On their return to Padua Lucentio has
won
Bianca and Hortensio has married a widow. At a banquet they wager on
who has the
most obedient wife. Each wife is issued with commands but only
Katherine obeys
and lectures everyone on the importance of wifely submission.



The overall production was anchored by inspiring talents and a well put
together
ensemble. The entire cast portrayed their characters beautifully. The
cast
interpreted the story and Shakespearean play (era). Their energy was
lively and
in the moment.



Alslyn Powell did an outstanding performance as a shrew. She not only
got into
the character but it was as if she was Katherine. Her transformation
from a
shrew to an obedient wife was greatly accomplished. Chad Blum was very
believable as Petruchio, he was also extremely comedic. Both Alslyn
Powell and
Chad Blum had persuasive chemistry between each other. Lindsey Leach
was
hilarious through out pretty much the entire show.



Corie Clements (Biondello) did a remarkable job playing a jumpy
servant. Paula
Rubman did a great performance as she played Bianca. Robert Jackson was
eye-catching in his performance as Lucentio. Kervans Joseph (Vincentio)
demonstrated an amazing angry old man.



The hand made set was nice, but looked as those it was done in a rush.
But it
definitely portrayed a local bar and didn’t take away from the
Shakespearean
scenes. The make-up was phenomenal all of the women who played men
looked as if
they were men.



Taming of the Shrew was quite a performance overall and was a fine
production.



by Ashley Jones of Dillard Center for the Arts

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A man far too drunk for his own good, a fiery woman with a husband set
on making
her submissive, and identity switches are just parts of “Taming of the
Shrew”,
solidly performed by Coral Springs High School this past weekend.



This William Shakespeare play, first performed in 1594, might be
recognizable in
such modern day forms as the Cole Porter musical “Kiss me, Kate!” and
the 1999
teen movie, “10 Things I Hate About You”. In a rundown bar, a drunken
man named
Christopher Sly (Lindsey Leach) is being entertained by a group of
actors
putting on an encore performance of “Taming of the Shrew”. Petruchio
(Chad Blum)
is determined to subdue the shrewish and fiery Katherine’s (Aislyn
Powell)
temper and win her dowry. Meanwhile, Lucentio (Robert Jackson) and
Hortensio
(Marcus Levine) vie for Katherine's sweet-tempered and beautiful
sister,
Bianca’s, (Paula Rubman), affection, and Lucentio cleverly disguises
himself as
Bianca’s Latin tutor in order spend time with her.



Coral Springs High School’s cast brought to life a story about love and
submission with a comedic twist.



Aislyn Powell gave an excellent performance as the shrewish Katherine.
Powell
added emotion and passion into every line, keeping in perfect character
throughout the entire play. Opposite Powell was Chad Blum, who crafted
an
admirable Petruchio. The scenes between Powell and Blum were the most
memorable,
as the emotional chemistry between the two strengthened with each scene
and made
up for the rather weak emotional chemistry between other characters.



Lindsey Leach created a hilarious Sly, providing immense amounts of
comedy
throughout the play. Leach’s interaction with the audience during
rather rough
set changes provided comical moments throughout the show.



The cast recited Shakespeare’s rather complicated lines without fault
through
much of the show, seeming to grasp a very clear meaning behind the
words.



The set design, consisting of the audience seated on the stage itself,
reminiscent of Shakespeare’s Globe Theatre, provided a unique and
intimate
atmosphere to the performance, allowing the audience to interact with
the
actors. The “play within a play” nature provided an additional unique
touch to a
rather average set. Paula Rubman’s brilliant makeup techniques added
moments to
the show where one couldn’t remember that females performed certain
male
characters.



All in all, Coral Springs High School put on a unique performance one
is sure
not to forget anytime soon.



by Mina Radman of Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School

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A drunken Christopher Sly staggers onstage and passes out on the
nearest table.
The bartender’s customers perform a play for the drunkard’s
entertainment and so
began Coral Springs High School’s rendition of "Taming of the Shrew".



Shakespeare’s "Taming of the Shrew" was written in the 1590’s and there
have
been several different adaptations of the play. Broadway’s longest
running
production of this play was the 1935 Theatre Guild and it ran for 129
performances. The play put on for Christopher Sly is the story of
Baptista
Minola’s two daughters and their suitors. The youngest daughter,
Bianca, isn’t
allowed to wed until her shrew of a sister, Katherine, is wed first.
Bianca’s
suitors begin their search for Katherine’s future groom. There are also
fake
fathers, clumsy servants, and obedience dilemmas.



The entire cast oozed energy and their costumes aided in the portrayal
of the
style of the 1590’s. Each actor succeeded in the feat of delivering
their lines
in old English and there were few slip ups.



Aislyn Powell’s performance as Katherine was solid. Powell had a loud,
clear
voice and her reactions were credible. Powell owned the stage in all of
her
scenes, which is admirable. Chad Blum was impressive as Petruchio,
Katherine’s
groom. Blum had great stage presence and the chemistry between him and
Powell
was strong.



Robert Jackson dramatized Lucentio exceptionally well. Jackson’s walk,
stance,
and dialect matched the studious Lucentio. Lindsey Leach depicted
Christopher
Sly hysterically! Leach interacted with the audience between scenes and
received
many laughs for her actions. Petruchio’s servants were also comedic
during their
scenes. The servants’ makeup and costumes abetted in their humor.



The stage was interesting because the audience sat on the stage
surrounding the
set, which was in the center of the seats; the cast and crew were going
for the
Globe Theatre set up. The stage crew did an adequate job with the scene
changes
but was sometimes unsure of the placing of the furniture.



In essence, Coral Springs High School performed an exceptional
production of
Taming of the Shrew and seating the audience similar to that of the
Globe
Theatre was a nice touch.



by Danica Sierra of Piper High School

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The worn walls of the depleted bar, accompanied with an overbearingly
drunk man
comically opened for the tale "Taming of the Shrew" at Coral Springs
High. The
exceptional tale of love, hypocrisy, and jealousy was brought to life
and
somewhat modernized compared to the play created in the late 1590's.



The William Shakepeare's creation detailed the delusional play within a
play the
drunken Christopher Sly (Lindsey Leach) witnessed in a bar. This play
encounters
the life of the wealthy Minalo Baptista of Patua (William Segal) and
his two
daughters Katherine (Aislyn Powell) and Bianca (Paula Rubman). Although
loved by
many such as Hortensio (Marcus Levine) and Lucentio (Robert Jackson),
Bianca was
forced to wait to marry until her shrewd sister Katherine wed first.
Luckily for
her, strong-willed Petruchio (Chad Blum) decided to marry the wealthy
daughter
Katherine,therefore allowing for the marriage of Bianca and her chosen
lover
Lucentio, with a few problems along the way.



The entire cast as a whole, successfully accomplished a fantastic
performance,
with the help of loud projection, slap-stick comedy, great setting, and
striking
characters. The script was clearly exposed and understood because of
the
bewildering acting.



Chad Blum eloquently expressed his over-bearing character Petrucho
with ease as
he vied for the love and marriage of Katherine. His realistic violence
he
performed eluded comic relief, while also staying true to the story
line. Aislyn
Powell lucratively became her character Katherine, by keeping true to
the rowdy
and quick-witted attitude her position requires. She also auspiciously
showed
the change her character faced towards the end of the story due to
Petruchio's
torment.



The ensemble cast were exceptional as a whole, each owning their
attributes and
giving hilarious comic relief. While a few minor slip-ups regarding
stumbled
lines and forgotten exits occurred, the actors made sure to cover their
mistakes
to become highly unnoticable. The character Christopher Sly did an
exceptional
job at cooperating with the audience during small interludes involving
scene and
set changes by making faces and even flirting with members of the
audience.



The set of the play was incredibly unique, in that it was directed and
shown
with the audience onstage,and positioned as though it would be in the
Shakespearen Globe Theatre, and had the audience uncommonly surrounding
the
stage from three sides. The lighting was incredibly radiant so that
nothing
ontage could not be seen. The makeup done by Paula Rubman was
impecible, leaving
many female actresses almost unnoticle through their male roles with
the beards
and moustaches created, as well as opulant costume choices chosen by
Cheyenne
Budau, Gaby Martinez, and Nydia Cortes.



This challenging Shakespearen dialogue was difficult, but recieved very
well,
explaining what happened in order to tame that shrew.

by Erin Garrison of Piper High School

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Men, brandish your taming skills. Ladies, crank up those defensive
mentalities.
Coral Springs High School’s rendition of “Taming of The Shrew”
skillfully
managed to give insight into one of Shakespeare’s most controversial
plays.



The year is 1594 and “Taming of The Shrew’s” first performances were
most likely
finding their way around London, England; however, since then,
Katherine and her
Shrewish tendencies have found their way to stages and silver screens
across the
world.



“Taming of The Shrew,” tells the story of two sisters, Katherine
(Aislyn Powell)
and Bianca (Paula Rubman,) one of which desires love, while the other
desires
hate. The play revolves around Lucentio’s, (Robert Jackson)
Hortensio’s, (Marcus
Levine) and Gremio’s (Adrian Mckay) constant fight to gain Bianca’s
hand in
marriage, while Petruchio (Chad Blum) attempts to tame the shrew, who
seems to
scorn all men.



The cast was able to maneuver around chairs, tables and flying insults
from
Katherine (Aislyn Powell) with great ease. And, throughout the entire
play, the
cast managed to maintain their grasp on the Shakespearean language by
articulating even the smallest words, which always seems to evade most
people.



Aislyn Powell, in her portrayal of the shrewish Katherine, handled her
part well
and was able to transgress from being an unbending man-eater, to a
simple and
discouraged wife. Chad Blum’s performance as the overbearing Petruchio
dominated
the scenes with an obvious power in scenes such as the classic one, in
which he
ties Katherine up and refuses to let her see her father.



Meghan Hahl as Grumio, with her animated facial expressions, and
perfect
diction, grasped the audience’s attention and didn’t let go. Lindsay
Leach, as
the hilarious and drunken Christopher Sly, commanded the stage during
scene
changes, and kept the audience interested, when nothing was going on.
Because of
intense scenes, some of the actors rushed through their lines making it
difficult to understand them; however, their body movements and facial
expressions, allowed them to surpass such a problem.



The theater in the round setting developed an atmosphere, which was
comparable
to that of the Globe Theater. Costumes were very extravagant, and truly
portrayed figures from the Renaissance, while the set, being rather
small, and
props being a bit too obviously faked, did not take away from the
actor’s
performance as a whole.



The familiar mix-ups and mishaps associated with Shakespeare occurred
throughout
the play and were performed well with the actor’s portrayal of a
chauvinistic
point in time. The audience being so close to the stage, caused them to
lean
forward in their chairs, actually making them spectators of a social
satire,
which Shakespeare himself did not know would leak through even to this
day.





by Garret Cher of Piper High School

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“He that knows better how to tame a shrew, now let him speak; ‘tis
charity
to shew.” Last Thursday, Coral Springs High School performed William
Shakespeare’s The Taming Of The Shrew, and delivered a performance
worth every
penny. The play made it a point to provide the audience with an
ambiance of true
Elizabethan culture, from the unique ‘theatre-in-the-round’ seating to
the
classically vibrant costumes that the actors were adorned with. Each
effect
brought to life the world of Shakespearian culture, and it couldn’t
have suited
the audience better.



The original Taming Of The Shrew was produced in 1593 and was one of
Shakespeare’s earlier projects. It was first presented in the Newington
Butts
Theatre and was well received by King Charles the First and his wife,
Queen
Henrietta Maria. The play is a “play within a play”, beginning with an
often
excluded prank on Christopher Sly, a sleeping drunkard, whose role is
often lost
as the play grows progressively more complex. Lucentio and his servant
Tranio
are then introduced, as Lucentio has come to Padua to pursue his
education. The
merchant Baptista Minola is then made known and tells two men, Gremio
and
Hortensio, who wish to marry his daughter, Bianca, that the only way
this is
possible is if his eldest daugheter, Katherine, an ill-tempered
‘shrew’, is wed
first. From this point on, a series of interwoven antics ensues,
ensnaring the
audience in a witty plot bound to please.



Coral Springs High School presented their version of the classic
production in a
manner which made it stand out amongst the other Shakespearian plays
which have
been acted out over the years - the seats were mounted upon the stage
in a
‘theatre-in-the-round’-esque style. The effect was wonderful - this
made the
play instantly become more personal and intimate, and it truly worked
in the
benefit of the actors. The play maintained a certain seriousness that
aided in
keeping the period piece as it was meant to be. Each aspect of the show
worked
hand-in-hand to create a powerful play, from giggle-inducing start to
jovial
end.



William Segal, Aislyn Powell, and Chad Blum, delivered captivating
performances,
succeeding in grabbing and keeping the audiences attention while
successfully
keeping in character the entire time that they were on stage. Each one
provides
a personalized touch to their characters and helps to create a unique,
lively,
and energetic performance. The chemistry between Aislyn Powell and Chad
Blum
(Katherine and Petruchio) is perfect - it quite nearly screams
‘realistic’ and
makes the two characters reactions all the more convincing. It almost
seems as
if the two really are the characters they portray, and this is an
admirable
trait, one any actor would kill for.



A few of the supporting cast that stuck out were Grumio and Biondello,
two
wise-cracking servants who stole each scene they were in. The two
remained in
character, even when it wasn’t their turn to speak, and reacted
excellently to
what their masters said when they spoke to them. It even appeared that
they
changed their body language to adapt to their characters, and this
trait which
merited them memorable notice.



The run crew for the play could have been a bit more organized - they
seemed to
dash out on stage at the most odd moments, and this was a bit
unsettling to
watch. Also, the greater majority of the people waltzing on and off
stage,
moving set pieces around, were costumed; there remained two that moved
chairs
back stage that were not. If they were simply costumed, it would have
looked
much better. On the other hand, while the pieces were being moved
about, the
transitions were fluid, which gave the audience a better handle on the
setting
at the time. The make up for the production was stupendous, however,
and the
five o’clock shadow created on the female characters who were portrayed
as males
gave an excellent touch to the illusion of the play.



Overall, the production was one of the more interesting takes on the
tale that
has been released in the past year, and the whole crew worked hand in
hand to
produce a wonderful interpretation of one of Shakespeare’s earliest
comedies.

by Jessica Unkel of Piper High School

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“From all such devils, good Lord deliver us!” Such an exclamation
would be the
reaction of any man attempting to tame a shrew, yet Coral Springs High
School’s
production of Shakespeare’s "The Taming of the Shrew" shows there may
be one
capable of doing so without running away in fear.



The story involves two sisters, Bianca and Katherine; the former of
which not to
be wed until a suitable husband is found for the other. Katherine’s
fierce
temper and feisty tongue; however, has left no man willing to even
approach her,
let alone wed her. Therefore, if Bianca’s suitors wish to gain her
hand, they
must be creative in their efforts and cunning in their attempt to have
Katherine
married.



The circular onstage seating arrangement created not only a more
intimate
atmosphere, but a traditional one as well, paying tribute to the Globe
Theater.
This unconventional method of audience placement proved the impressive
professionalism of the cast, as the actors were able to overcome the
challenge
of performing in such close proximity to their viewers.



Chad Blum, as the indefatigable Petruchio, did a terrific job handling
the
difficult Shakespearean language, adding his own subtle humor with his
witty
line delivery. Aislyn Powell gave an equally commendable performance,
capturing
the ferocity of Katherine and also effectively displaying the
transition in her
demeanor after having been “tamed.” The two exemplified outstanding
onstage
chemistry and comedic timing, even in their more physically strenuous
scenes.



Lindsey Leach demonstrated excellent character dedication as the
drunken
Christopher Sly, remaining onstage for the play’s entirety. Humorously
interacting with audience members, Leach provided an entertaining
distraction
during scene changes. Also adding to the play’s humor was Corie
Clements
(Biondello) with her hilarious mannerisms and reactive facial
expressions.
Meghan Hahl, as Grumio, exhibited an excellent understanding of the
language
which was notable in her strong line delivery.



The traditional costuming was vibrant and engaging, contributing to the
ambience
of the production. Make-up application was also quite effective in
transforming
female actors into their male roles through the addition of beards.
Though
diction and rushed lines were at times a problem, the actors
compensated by
maintaining a high level of energy throughout the performance.



As Hortensio puts it, “There’s small choice in rotten apples.”
However, Coral
Springs High School proved its production of The Taming of the Shrew to
be the
ripest of the batch.

by Tracey Green of Piper High School

--------------------------------------------------

Coral Springs High School performed "Taming of the Shrew" by William
Shakespeare. The audience was seated on the stage to mimic the setting
of the
play that was originally performed in the Globe Theater back in 1594.
It was the
longest running Broadway production in 1935, which ran for one-hundred
and
twenty nine performances, at Theater Guild. The play was received well
by most
in Shakespeare’s time because of the collective malice towards women.
However,
today the play causes controversy and many adapt and omit the
misogynistic
scenes of the play.



"Taming of the Shrew" is a play within a play. The owner of the
alehouse decides
to play a trick on Christopher Sly, a drunk, who comes in often.
Performers from
a near by playhouse decide to go along with the trick and perform a
comedy. Then
the story of men controlling women arises.



Coral Springs Highs schools performance was very strong considering the
bewildering Shakespearian language. Katherine, played by Aislyn Powell,
delivered a monologue in the final scene of the play with confidence.
Lindsey
Leach, who played Christopher Sly, captivated the audience with her
comedic role
as the sleeping drunk. She was onstage through out the entire
production, only
spoke once, and stayed in character the entire time. Petruchio’s (Chad
Blum)
performance was very strong.



Throughout the play, the performers worked well together on the small
set, which
was made to look like an old alehouse. Set changes were done quickly
and as
inconspicuous as possible. Many different costumes were used throughout
the
production, especially for Baptista’s (William Segel) daughters,
Katherine
(Aislyn Powell) and Bianca (Paula Rubman).



Overall, Coral Springs High School’s production of "Taming of the
Shrew" was
commendable. They should be proud of their hard work.











by Alex Weber of Pompano Beach High School

--------------------------------------------------

As the battles of love infringe circumstances, Petruchio (Chad
Blum) manages
to tame the bitter Katherine (Aislyn Powell). Meanwhile, Katherine’s
younger
sister,the kind hearted Bianca (Paula Rubman), beings to see her
instructor,
Lucentio (Robert Jackson), with different eyes.



The themes of love, ambition, and social standard were delightfully
put
together by the cast. Each actor brought out the heart and soul of
their
character. The attraction between Petruchio and Katherine was
inevitably felt.



Coral Springs High created a successful production. The vibrant
energy of
the actors kept the 21st century audience captivated by the romance of
Shakespearian times. Although it was a risk to make Christopher Sly
(Lindsey
Leach), a modern drunk, it was well managed. Sly was on stage during
the entire
production, which allowed this romantic story to have a comedic side as
well.



Lindsey Leach gave the production the little bit of pixy it needed
to be
successful. As she stumbled around the show, she was able to mock the
other
actors, while maintaining her character. The fact that she was playing
a male
character also made it funnier. With each of Aislyn Powell’s movements,
she
controlled the stage. Aislyn Powell was one of the most important
elements of
the entire production. Her emotion’s allowed the audience members to
maintain an
understanding of the plot. The beautiful Paula Rubman was made for the
role of
Bianca. Paula demonstrated the overall loveliness and kindheartedness
of her
character.



As both Petruchio and Katherine develop their roles, the
development of
their connection was perfect. On the other hand, Bianca and Luciento
lacked
chemistry. It was understandable that there should have been taming of
the
shrew, but there should have been more attraction between Bianca and
Lucentio.



The comedic romance involved a bar type of location. The chosen
location was
a bit or a risk because it was somewhat modern. Overall, the characters
maintained their part perfectly, which allowed the scenery to be
dimmed.



Taming of the Shrew was truly an indication that Coral Springs High
has the
ability to undertake a classic production. It wasn’t an easy task, but
the
production was an absolute success.



by Angelica Chaves of Pompano Beach High School

--------------------------------------------------

How is it that an untamable shrew is coerced into becoming a loving,
faithful
wife? Is it even possible with a wife like Katherine Baptista? Well, in
Coral
Springs High’s rendition of Shakespeare’s "Taming of the Shrew", the
cast
portrayed the taming of Kate in a successfully traditional way with a
slight,
pleasing modern twist.



In Shakespeare’s play, first performed in 1594, his characters are
actually
found in a play within a play. He starts out the performance with a
character by
the name of Christopher Sly (played by Lindsey Leach in Coral Springs
High’s
rendition), who is a drunken patron tricked into believing that this
“play” is
going on in real life. Coral Springs High’s performance also included
this
character, which in most plays is hardly seen or heard at all. In this
performance however, Leach reaches out to the audience encouraging
participation, stumbling around, making physical jokes, and silly
gestures in
the background all of which helped keep the audience laughing and
focused as
sets and scenes were changing.



Speaking of the audience, the set of this play was uniquely constructed
to allow
them to experience how it would have felt to be sitting in the famous
Globe
Theater. They were staged on the stage, allowing for a feeling of
intimacy with
the characters as well as a lack of worry on the cast’s and crew’s part
about
sound and lighting. It was certainly an enjoyable experience for both
audience
and cast.



As for the characters of this play, there is no better word to describe
them but
enthusiastic about their parts. The two servants, Biondello (Corie
Clements) and
Grumio (Meghan Hahl) were absolutely hilarious with their contrasting
personalities. Clements portrayed liveliness as her character and
stayed very
comical especially with her giddy manner of speech. Hahl, in contrast,
was
successfully bitter, but managed to stay comical as well, especially
with her
sarcastic quips and eye rolls.



There was no mistaking that Petruchio (Chad Blum) and Katherine (Aislyn
Powell)
stole the show. Powell showed fantastic vocals which truly showed the
wrath of
Kate the Shrew. Blum also showed quite the enthusiasm in his part as he
began
his quest to tame her. He maintained a very comical air while still
managing to
keep his Shakespearean language in check. Powell and Blum showed great
chemistry
together and as the play came to an end and Kate’s monologue brought
the play to
a close, Powell even downplayed her lively part to show the brokenness
of Kate.
They were a very well chosen match indeed.



With, not only great acting, but fantastic make-up jobs, this rendition
of
"Taming of the Shrew" was certainly an enjoyable one, even with all the
yelling.




by Caitlin O'Brien of Pompano Beach High School

--------------------------------------------------

Take a coarse woman, her contrary sister with three suitors willing to
do
anything to obtain the beauty's hand in marriage, a stubborn father who
will
only allow the sister to be married after the first one is, some
mistaken
identity and you've got the main conflicts of "Taming of the Shrew",
written by
William Shakespeare. It is a play within a play with Christopher Sly, a
drunk
thinking he is dreaming the story. This witty comedy, testing the
obedience of
women, was first performed in June of 1594. The idea of a woman being
at a man's
beck and call was customary for its time.In today's world, people have
issues
with Katherine, the shrew, inevitably being broken like a horse. Even
so, this
story has wonderful language and a riveting plot.



Generally when attending a performance you are seated in an auditorium
yards
away from the actors but not in Coral Springs' production of Taming of
the
Shrew. Instead, you are seated on stage with the actors immersing you
all the
more into the action. The idea was inspired by “theater in the round”,a
popular
style in Shakespeare's time. The first thing that is noticed is the
simplistic
set which is joined by a single spot light to furthermore keep your
attention on
the actors.



The hostess(Briana Rittersporn) greets the audience assertively setting
us up
for an enjoyable evening. Soon a stumbling drunk enters the stage
requesting
more booze, introduced as Christopher Sly(Lindsey Leach). Local actors
enter the
bar and put on the story. A wonderful idea on the director's part
making Coral
Springs interpretation memorable and unique. Leach was excellent in
personifying
the character, and everyone loved her interaction with the audience.
Katherine(Aislyn Powell)had good facial expressions, and seemed very
comfortable
with the language. Her tender moments in the second half allowed her
true acting
abilities to show rather than all her energizing outburst in the first.
Powell's
interaction with Petruchio was tremendously natural, giving the best
connection.Petruchio(Chad Blum) was very strong and by the second half,
took
control of the stage. Bianca(Paula Rubman) embodied her character well,
and was
clear and direct with the language. I applaud Grumio(Meghan Hahl) for
staying in
character the entire time. Not once did she let me remember we were in
the 21st
century. Luncentio had good stage presence but his language was not as
clear as
it could've been. Hortensio(Marcus Levine) was the easiest to
understand, but
his face didn't match the emotions behind his words. Kervans Joseph
played both
Curits and Vincentio but owned the role of Vincentio much more.



Overall Coral Springs' "Taming of the Shrew" was energetic, funny, and
very
entertaining.



by Francesca Cromartie of South Plantation High School

--------------------------------------------------

Katherine, a woman, thought of as strong and independent to the eyes of
us in
the 21st century was not seen as that to them in this play. Words to
describe
her would be she-wolf, old biddy, dragon, nag and the list goes on and
on. We
sat back in this close-up type seating and watched a transformation in,
"Taming
of the Shrew".



This play has gone through some problems. Published in 1623, and the
first known
performance of "The Taming of the Shrew" was held at Newington Butts on
June 13,
1594. It was written by William Shakespeare between 1589 and 1594, a
romantic
comedy set in the Italian city of Padua. Baptista, Katherine's father,
will not
allow his younger more gentler daughter Bianca to marry until the
bitter Kate
is wed also. Petruchio arrives, looking for a wife. He fakes Kate's
insults and
blows are affectionate and asks for Kate's hand. Baptista agrees and
offers
Bianca to the wealthiest suitor. Tranio (pretending to be his master
Lucentio)
outbids the other suitors, while Bianca accepts the real Lucentio's
suit.
Petruchio arrives late to his wedding in a bizarre outfit, abuses his
new wife,
starving her and insisting she agree with every word he says, no matter
how
ridiculous. Vincentio arrives at Lucentico’s house, only to be arrested
as a
fraud. Lucentio and Bianca, now husband and wife, return; Baptista
realises the
real Vincentio will, despite everything, honour the marriage contract;
and
outside Petruchio and Kate kiss. At a celebration banquet, the
apparently tamed
Kate proves herself to be the most obedient wife of the women present.



The leads Katherine and Pertruchio captured the audience in whatever
they were
engaged in by there chemistry. The passion they used with each word
they said
spilled through as we watched. It’s, like they were their characters.
Christopher Sly, the drunk brought that extra “umph” to the play
interacting
with varies audience members, bringing out laughs. In these roles they
showed
their talent.



Supporting roles, Bianca and Lucentio who carried a sub-plot to the
story
portrayed the fake “love triangle” Shakespeare intended. Vincentio
showed the
rage a father might feel when he’s been lied to and Biondello brought
the cute,
funny moments with her comments and gestures. The way Baptista
commanded that
stage, and Grumio’s loyalty of Petruchio really completed the story.
Though
there were some random pauses signaling they’d forgot some of their
lines they
managed to put it together and put on a great show.



A set changed from a bar to a place in the Italian Victorian era looked
kind of
awkward at first since you’re watching Shakespeare but staring at a
wall that
said male and female restrooms. In the end it fit, once you’d
understood the
story. The make up used for facial hair was really interesting because
at times
it’d look real then again it’d looked fake. The costumes were great.
Interesting
to see that with their particular clothing after changing into the
Shakespearean-ware some still left on their normal sneakers, reminding
you that
they were still just actors playing actors performing Taming of the
Shrew.



Coral Springs High School showed how Petruchio “Tamed the Shrew” and
all in all
it was an entertaining portrayal of the beloved play written by William
Shakespeare.

by Lindsay Sterling of South Plantation High School

--------------------------------------------------

A pretty peat! it is best, Put finger in the eye, an she knew why.'
Cantankerous
Kate! Rambunctious Katherina! Thy spirit hath lived on for nigh 400
years,
drifting unremittingly to Coral Springs High for a charming rendition
of William
Shakespeare's "The Taming of the Shrew."



This romantic comedy features a play within a play, in which a wealthy
drunk,
Christopher Sly, is played false. The players: Shrewd Katherina,
Tactful
Baptista, Beauteous Bianca, Eccentric Petruchio and many more execute
in the
farce in which a vicious tigress becomes a biddable lamb.



Power pair Alslyn Powell (Katherina) and Chad Blum (Petruchio)
performed with
determined enthusiasm and incessant chemistry. Blum carried out his
role with
apparent understanding of his character, verve, and not a little
pizzazz.
Powell, using her body language, had little trouble depicting Kate's
moods and
making sure that everyone knew it. Together the duo developed a most
enjoyable
atmosphere.



There was no lack of chemistry or energy of the stage in this
performance.
Christopher Sly was performed by actress Lindsey Leach. Although she
said not a
word all throughout the entire performance, she compelled the audience
with her
animated reactions to not only the play but to the audience as well,
inciting
several fits of laughter.



The few pauses that occurred in the first half of the play were
overshadowed by
the vibrant energy and coactive participation of the cast. Many
Characters
showed substantial understanding of Shakespeare's work, while others
spoke
rather vaguely.



"The Taming of the Shrew" has a significant number of roles for males
though the
cast was largely female. Make-up artist, Paula Rubman, artfully
innovative.



The set arrangement could be compared with Shakespeare's Globe
Theater's
"groundlings", which were people who could not afford seating so
instead they
stood in front of the stage. That is where the comparison ends, for the
set was
thus designed that the audience surrounded the set on stage, and there
was
seating. There were a few concerns visually due to the contained space,
but the
clarity of the voices of the cast ensured that everyone understood what
was
going on.



"The Taming of the Shrew" recounts a classic tale of a battle of wit
and will
power. Coral Springs High School fought that troubling battle and came
out
victor with good spirits and minimum casualties.









by Michelle Morris of South Plantation High School

--------------------------------------------------

Bachelorette number one, Katherine, is a fiery tempered dame with a
quick,
biting tongue who won't hesitate to beat a man should she find herself
displeased with him. What a catch, huh? Coral Springs High School's
production
of The Taming of the Shrew centered around this woman and her unique
experience
with love and relationships.



The Taming of the Shrew's exact creation date is unknown, but it was
written 400
years ago by William Shakespeare, written about 8-10 years before
Shakespeare's
Ado About Nothing. The Taming of the Shrew is the story of a drunk
named
Christopher Sly who passes out by a lord's house, and then is tricked
by that
lord into thinking that he himself is a lord and owns the estate. A
troupe of
actors enters and performs the play the Taming of the Shrew for him.
From there
we meet Katherine, the shrew, her sister, and her sister's suitors, who
convince
a man by the name of Petruchio to marry her so her younger sister may
be married
as well. Katherine is forced into marraige and undergoes a few major
changes as
the story continues.



Coral Springs High School's production came to life through the emotion
of the
cast and their ability to stay in character even when they weren't
speaking
lines. While some lines were quick and difficult to understand, the
pure emotion
behind these lines let their meaning come shining through.



Alslyn Powell's portrayal of the very shrewish Katherine was grasping,
from the
way her voice fluctuated with emotion to her hand gestures and facial
expressions. Chad Blum's performance as Petruchio was delivered with a
dark
humor and a selfish flair that coinsides greatly with the nature of his
character. The chemistry between Katherine and Petruchio could be felt
from the
first time they appeared on stage together and both performers did very
well in
bringing out the best in eachother.



Lindsay Leach, portraying Christopher Sly, was a source of comedic
relief
throughout the entire play. Even during set changes, Leach was
continually
engaging the audience, from "seducing" certain persons to poking and
prodding
the actors as they came on stage. Near the end of the play, Kristen
Farber made
best with what little stage time her character, the Widow, had, and did
an
excellent job of it using her emotion with her words as gateways to her
character's frame of thinking.



The manner in which the audience was seated was in the style of the
Globe
Theature, letting the audience get up close to the action with the
actors and
providing a truely unique play-going experience. The set was simplistic
and fit
its purpose well, and set changes were quick and carried out fluidly.
Paula
Rubman's make-up made the actresses in male roles gain a more male
appearance,
thereby making the characters more believable.



Coral Spring High School's Taming of the Shrew was a charming and
charismatic
production that was entertaining and enjoyable to watch.

by Sarah Greene of South Plantation High School