- April 26, 2024
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Beau Wade (Tranio), Daniel Conard (Lucentio), Agata Sokolska, (Bianca) and Earl Levine (Baptista Minola). Photo by Paige Wilson
Jim Fellows, as Gremio, creepily eyes Agata Sokolska, as Bianca. Photo by Paige Wilson
Petruchio, played by Damon Dennin, attempts to get affection from Katherina, played by Cameron Gagne. Photo by Paige Wilson
Angela Young takes on her first male character by playing the comedic Biondello, servant to Lucentio. Photo by Paige Wilson
Lucentio, played by Daniel Conard, tutors Bianca, Agata Sokolska, in an attempt to win her over. Photo by Paige Wilson
Cameron Gagne, as Katherina, and Damon Dennin, as Petruchio. Photo by Paige Wilson
Palm Coast resident Agata Sokolska, as Bianca. Photo by Paige Wilson
Damon Dennin acts as Petruchio, a suitor to Katherina. Photo by Paige Wilson
Victoria Page acts as Grumio, servant to Petruchio. Photo by Paige Wilson
Jim Fellows (Gremio), states his case for why Bianca should be his to wed, as Earl Levine (Baptista Minola), Angela Young (Biondello) and Beau Wade (Tranio) listen. Photo by Paige Wilson
Alexander Loucks, who plays Bianca's suitor Hortensio (who pretends to be Litio), attempts to romance Agata Sokolska, as Bianca. Photo by Paige Wilson
Baptista Minola, played by Earl Levine, listens to his angry daughter Katherina, played by Cameron Gagne, when her husband-to-be doesn't show. Photo by Paige Wilson
Katherina, played by Cameron Gagne, and Petruchio, played by Damon Dennin, share a kiss. Photo by Paige Wilson
William Shakespeare’s “The Taming of the Shrew” will take on a new light with a mid-1960s’ setting, for the second-annual Shakespeare in the Park in Palm Coast.
After a successful first year with “Macbeth,” the Palm Coast Arts Foundation and City Repertory Theatre have collaborated again for the show, which will be set on the PCAF stage located in Town Center.
Director John Sbordone, of CRT, said the decade choice will help the audience appreciate Katherina’s wild tendencies and understand how she mellows after receiving affection from her suitor, Petruchio.
“One of the things that we were looking for is how to make Kate palatable for the modern female audience, because the taming of the shrew was, in its time, just that,” Sbordone said, as Kate is called a “shrew” for not being marriage material from a male perspective at the time. “We were looking for a time period that would allow for color, that would allow for a way of looking at Kate from two different perspectives. So, I picked the mid-’60s where we’d have a clash between what we used to call ‘the moral majority’ and the counter-culture — the beginning of the hippies and the feminist movement.”
Shakespeare’s comedic lines are enhanced by the ’60s colors and tone throughout the show, said Palm Coast resident Angela Young, who plays Biondello.
“The way we’re physically presenting the show, between the costumes and the music and the physical interactions between the character, we’re bringing meaning to the words,” Young said.
Kate’s sister, Bianca, is portrayed as the picture of beauty, grace and modesty — the opposite of Kate. Bianca is played by Palm Coast resident Agata Sokolska, who is a Flagler Palm Coast High School graduate.
Sokolska said the ’60s theme will help the audience relate to the characters more.
“It makes it a little easier to understand because it’s a time period a lot of people will be able to connect to and reflect back on,” she said.
With English being Sokolska’s second language, she has worked hard to perfect the Old English dialogue.
“I definitely can confirm that Shakespeare is meant to be heard and seen, not just read,” she said.
Sbordone said ticket sales have come in earlier than last year’s inaugural performance.
“I think the theater culture is growing in Palm Coast, which is amazing,” Sokolska said. “I think Palm Coast is a very special place. Since it’s such a new city, we are in the moment where we are creating that Palm Coast culture.”
