My overall impression
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 in the cast are Dawn Alden as the overly macho Petruchio, Jen Albert as Master-wanna-be Katharina, Lacy Altwine as huffy Baptista, and Marti Hale as Bianca’s jilted suitor Gremio. Tara Donovan begins the show as apparently super submissive Bianca until she meets her match in Lucentio (Dana DeRuyck)and discovers how fun it is to lead him around. Quite comical and very fun to watch!
Special kudos to costumer Linda Muggeridge for her read and black themed BDSM wear including lots of leather corsets, vests, leggings and boots, and director Danielle Ozymandias for keeping the action moving along at a quick pace.
