Fifty Shades of Shrew

As a life-long lover of Shakespeare's "Taming of the Shew" and now a fan of the "Fifty Shades of Grey" trilogy, I was certainly wondering how the two could be combined. Well it appears to be much easier than I thought given the exciting new production of "Fifty Shades of Shrew" at the Lounge Theater. The all-female cast, most members of the production company Broads' Word Theatre, are able to use the Bard's exact text and make it come alive in the most BDSM connotations possible by just using a different emphasis on words and actions that promote such fun activities as spanking, Master/Submissive games, handcuffs, and other elements which are discussed by latex-clad Mistress Kara before the play begins for the uninitiated. Standouts ... full review

Linda Muggeridge’s smart and sexy costumes are no small part of the entertainment quotient in this condensed all-female production of The Taming of the Shrew, which casts a benign and playful eye on BDSM. A fierce yet doleful Katharina (Jennifer Albert) makes her first appearance in slinky black leather while her supposedly doe-like sister Bianca (Tara Donovan) shows up in high heels, white stockings and a short frilly white skirt. When Petruchio (Dawn Alden), rolls in, the choleric Katharina drawn to him, despite herself. And it turns out that the gentle Bianca also enjoys these games, playing dominant mistress with her lover, Lucentio (Dana DeRuyck), by spanking him lightly in the midst of their affectionate embraces. Directed by Daniel... full review

Taming of the Shrew has and is ever a problematic play to justify in the modern world with feminism and the independence of women. But add in a little bit of bondage and domination and oddly enough it all starts to make sense. Highly Recommended. Read the full review at Gia On The Move (official press) : http://giaonthemove.com/2015/06/22/gia-hff15-reviews-50-shades-of-shrew/... full review

We know Shakespeare could be a bit bawdy....but was Taming of the Shrew really about S&M? That's one interpretation which director Danielle Ozymandias puts forth in 50 Shades of Shrew at the Fringe. This all female adaptation of the Bards work is a hilarious romp through a BDSM dungeon where the characters explore the dynamics of power and submission. It works, thanks to a superb cast led by Dawn Alden as Petruchio and Jen Albert as Kate. There are no elaborate sets, but there's no need in this production. You have some wildly erotic costumes to make up for the simple mise en scene. Art thou curious? Then you should check out this latest offering from the Broads Word Theatre ensemble. It's playing through the 27th.... full review