THEY’RE called Rain or Shine, but an enthusiastic and appreciative audience at Dore Abbey were delighted that the company’s production of The Taming of the Shrew was performed in glorious sunshine. The story of the gold-digging Petruchio and his attempts to ‘woo’ the feisty Katharina is not without controversy in the 21st century, with its message that subjugation of a wife is the key to domestic harmony and a successful marriage. But ladle on a heavy dose of irony and a tongue-in-cheek attitude and Rain or Shine succeed in accentuating the humour and eliminating the polemic.
There is a touch of Stepford Wives about the end of the play, but this, in a strange way, makes the work feel more contemporary than it might otherwise. As director James Reynard says, “It is perhaps best watched with a knowing smile and a nod to a writer well ahead of his time.” Energetic and convincing performances from all the cast, especially James Reynard as Petruchio (a perfectly judged degree of swagger) and Charlotte Kingsford as Katharina (convincing as curst shrew and with a twinkle that suggested Petruchio’s domination was not as complete as he believed), ensured a thoroughly entertaining evening, with plenty of laugh-out-loud moments as the ensemble gave their all to the complex plot involving Katharina’s sister Bianca’s web of suitors. Special mention should be made of Pippa Meekings’ performances in her dual roles as Bianca and Biondello - and her willingness to get soaked. No rain, but plenty of water.

True love!  That’s the answer, isn’t it? And if Kate and Petruchio find true love then all the business that passes between them, the eponymous ‘Taming of the Shrew,’ is so much hot air for them and amusement for us.  For unlike some ‘Shrews,’ this was a happy, if hard-bitten, romantic comedy that can leave everyone content.
Yes, it’s ‘Rain or Shine’ time again: that wet fortnight at the beginning of July when the strolling players come westwards and southwards into this little corner of our land sometimes this side of the Welsh border, sometimes that, depending on which night you turn up.

Yesterday they played in Chepstow Castle, that most magnificent pile of masonry beside the River Wye that pre-dates even the earliest of Shakespeare’s history plays. As usual the performance was al fresco (we might as well start early with the Italian seeing as ‘the Shrew,’ like so many of Uncle Will’s creations, is set in Lombardy).  As usual, this is Shakespeare played, one imagines, ‘as she was writ’ that is to be rumbustious, comic, full of business - verbal pyrotechnics for the masses, all overlying one or two more serious themes. 

The serious theme here of course is the extent to which a wife should obey her husband - indeed - to what extent should a husband bend a wife to his will? “I will have my property,” says Petruchio as he throws Kate over his shoulder and rides off after a precipitate wedding.  Kate, of course, resists, as she has spiritedly resisted everything that has come before in her life.

That duel of spirits is indeed the axis on which the play turns.  But here Shakespeare takes us back to a world with which his audience would have been entirely familiar, but of which most people today are entirely ignorant - the world of falconry.  Petruchio likens Kate to a hawk that must be ‘manned’ - a singularly appropriate description in Kate’s case - and through lack of food and sleep be made to sit with docility on his master’s fist.

Anyone reading TH White’s marvellous book, ‘The Goshawk’ can relive that author’s experience as long night follows long day while the Goshawk of the title - a Kate by any other name - sits sullenly on his fist bating savagely at every opportunity. Following the old methods he does not feed the hawk, nor let it sleep, but instead reads to it - Shakespeare as it happens.  He rewards the bird when it is still, but until the hawk accepts him, he does not sleep nor eat himself, his only sustenance being a glass of whisky and more Shakespeare.  It is an epic battle of wills: man against bird.

‘The Taming of the Shrew’ is thus this ‘man against bird’ story transferred to the human sphere and the question is: who will really win - how should the play end?  Three couples share the ending so there are endless possibilities for a director.  Let me not therefore tell you how this production ends but only say that the Director, James Reynard, who also plays Petruchio to Charlotte Kingsford’s magnificently haughty Kate, is endlessly creative and there are twists, surprises - and laughs - galore.

Of all the plays ‘Rain or Shine’ have done in the past few years this is certainly one of the best performances yet.  Wonderfully slick, beautifully spoken and acted - extravagant in its physical comedy - but also eminently believable.

As an audience we may have been windswept (but dry at least, indeed the sky was practically cloudless) by the stiff breeze that rolled up the river and swirled around the castle battlements, demolishing part of the minimalist scenery before the play had really even begun.  We may also have been a thin audience, for many people would surely have been put off by the surfeit of rain over recent days and in the great space of Chepstow’s Middle Bailey our response and applause must have sounded painfully weak and unappreciative. 

Nevertheless, like true professionals the company carried on strongly, putting every ounce of energy and not a little physical discomfort into the proceedings.

A really super show - and worth going out of your way to see.  Only do remember to wrap up well.  The weather can be most unkind after the interval even if it doesn’t rain. Don’t be afraid of overdressing. Leave the dashing about in flimsies to the cast.

Crackerjack rating: 7 / 10.

They're called the Rain or Shine Theatre Company for good reason.
Whatever the weather, the play must go on and so actors and audience started out in pouring rain, which slowly cleared to reveal blue skies and a clear evening under the stars at the Tuckwell Amphitheatre. And that in a way summed up this production. A little overcast and dull at the start, but brightening later with sunny spells.

It was a pretty straightforward take on the Bard's famous story, with the cast as a band of strolling players, presenting the tale of how the spirited, headstrong Katharina is wooed and tamed by the fortune-hunting wife-seeker Petruchio. Add a host of young suitors, all vying for the hand of her dainty sister Bianca and you have everything from sibling rivalry to cunning plots and slapstick, all in the name of love.

Of course, the characters of Katharina, played by Charlotte Kingsford, and Petruchio, played by James Reynard, are the audience favourites and the play came to life when they met for the first time. Sparks flew in well done comic scenes where they circled and fought like wildcats. Reynard was a commanding presence and Kingsford was both spirited and demure as the very un-PC battle of the sexes was played out.

They were supported by a cast that drew humour from every line, especially Nicholas Karpenko as Hortensio and Vincentio and Thomas P Jordan who played Lucentio and Curtis. And James Reynard as director and Jayne Lloyd, producer, introduced some quirky touches. In particular, the cast seemed to enjoy tipping water over each other in true slapstick style - ironically just as the rain had stopped. An enjoyable outdoor performance.

THERE may have been a lot more water than sun this year at the Rain or Shine Theatre Company's 65 date tour, but the eight talented actors have the sparkle and adaptability to be able to cope with anything the weather throws at them. Fortunately at Walford Mill last Saturday the capacity audience had to cope with chill rather than last year's downpour.

 Shakespeare's The Taming of the Shrew which centuries later became an Elizabeth Taylor movie of the same name, the musical Kiss me Kate and the film 10 Things I Hate About You, is the story of a father Baptista Minola who refuses to let his spoilt younger daughter Bianca marry until a suitor is found for her tempestuous older sister Katharina. Enter Lucentio, suitor to Bianca, and fortune-hunting Petruchio who reckons he can tame the kicking, spitting Kate. Characters disguise themselves as others and there is plenty of fun and amusement as Katharina is tamed - or is she? And Bianca appears more placid - or not? The audience can make up its mind as to which would be the happiest union.

Pippa Meekings in her fourth appearance at Walford Mill is flirty and impish as Bianca and barely recognisable in her second part as the mischievous young servant Biondello. Charlotte Kingsford (Hermione in last year's Winter's Tale) clearly revelled in the opportunity to display some really bad behaviour in the role of Katharina.

With strong performances from James Reynard as Petruchio, Craig Rogers as Tranio, Nicholas Karpenko as Hortensio/Vincentio, Rob Leetham as Baptista/ Grumio and Thomas P. Jordan as Lucentio/Curtis, not to mention producer Jayne Lloyd who popped up in three roles, it was an evening of professional theatre, greeted by an appreciative audience at an atmospheric venue.

Rain or Shine is looking for indoor venues throughout the country for a winter tour of A Christmas Carol. If you have access to a theatre, village hall, conference centre, school or any indoor performance space contact them at theatre@rainorshine.co.uk

Marilyn Barber

Stour and Avon Magazine.