Play Analysis: The Taming of the Shrew Essay Paper

Play Analysis: The Taming of the Shrew Essay Paper

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Required Resources
Read/review the following resources for this activity:

Textbook: Title: Humanities Through the Arts
Authors: F. DAVID. JACOBUS MARTIN (LEE.), MARTIN
Publisher: McGraw-Hill Education
Publication Date: 2018-01-12
Chapter 8
Play from the Internet, YouTube, DVD, iTunes, Amazon, Netflix, etc.
1 primary source (written version of selected play)Play Analysis: The Taming of the Shrew Essay Paper

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Instructions
Plays are meant to be performed, rather than read. The purpose of dramatic arts often extends far beyond the words written on a page; staging, lighting, costumes intonation, expression, and audience experience are all part of the experience of a theatrical production. To develop your understanding of the cultural role of the dramatic arts, you will view a production of a play this week and write a reflection to explain your viewing experience. Choose a play that you would like to view and find a version online, YouTube, DVD or iTunes, Amazon, Netflix, etc. You can also choose to see a play live if you prefer.

Play Suggestions: Play Analysis: The Taming of the Shrew Essay Paper

A Midsummer Night’s Dream
Romeo and Juliet
As You Like It
Taming of the Shrew
The Tempest
Much Ado About Nothing
The Comedy of Errors
Macbeth
King Lear

Then address the following options:

Option 1: Write an analysis of the play that you viewed. Include at least one quote from the play in your essay. In your essay, address the following:

Identify the performance that you have selected.
Describe the staging, lighting, costumes, and characters of the performance. How do these match or revise the written version of the play? You do not need to read the entire play, but you should skim the text.
What type of mood and tone does the performance create? How?
What parts of the play are easier to understand through performance? What are some details that stood out through performance?
What are your feelings about this performance? What did you take away from viewing it?
Writing Requirements (APA format)
Length: 2 pages (not including title page or references page)
1-inch margins
Double spaced
12-point Times New Roman font
Title page
References page (minimum of 1 source) Play Analysis: The Taming of the Shrew Essay Paper

I recently had the pleasure of attending a performance of William Shakespeare’s “The Taming of the Shrew”. This classic comedy follows the story of Petruchio and Katherina, two lovers brought together through a series of misunderstandings and comical antics. The staging of this particular production was traditional, with a single stage in the center of the theatre surrounded by audience seating with the lights dimmed and spotlights shone on the actors during key scenes. I keenly observed that the costumes appeared to be from the Elizabethan period, with men wearing tunics and doublets and women wearing long gowns and corsets. The characters of the play representing the different character were portrayed with a broad range of facial expressions, from the feisty Katherina to the determined Petruchio, and each actor was able to bring a unique energy to their role.

This production followed the written version of the play closely, but with a few modern updates. For example, in one scene Katherina and Petruchio engaged in what was evidently a physical fight, which was not present in the original version. Moreover, some of the dialogue was cleverly rewritten to be more gender-neutral, and some characters were updated to be less gender-stereotypical (Shakespeare, 2002). Reflecting on the play in its entirety and from my point of view, the performance was an excellent example of a classic play with a few modern twists. As Petruchio famously states in the play, “My tongue will tell the anger of my heart, or else my heart concealing it will break” (Act 4, Scene 1) (Shakespeare, 2002)Play Analysis: The Taming of the Shrew Essay Paper. This beautifully summarizes the play’s themes of love, anger, and the need for communication. I thoroughly enjoyed this performance and highly recommend it to anyone looking for a vibrant, modern-day interpretation of an old classic.

The mood and tone of the performance were light-hearted and comedic, and this is perfectly in line with the written version of the play. From all around the theater, the audience was filled with laughter, and the actors created a sense of hilarity even through the quietest scenes. There was evident physicality during the entire performance of the play. This was especially important as it enabled the actors to bring the characters to life through their body language and facial expressions. More importantly, the witty dialogue was delivered with great timing and energy, which helped bring the play to life in a truly entertaining way.

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Plays written by Shakespeare is perceived by many as rather complex, and I fully agree with and align with this position. However, there were areas of the play that were made easier to understand during the performance. Notably, through the actors’ delivery, the play’s humor was very clearly conveyed, and the play’s themes of love and communication were also more evident and articulate, as the actors could portray the characters’ emotions in a very tangible way. Also, the physical fight between Katherina and Petruchio mentioned in the sections above was a great example of the tension between the two characters. The performance was enjoyable and skillfully executed as the actors adeptly conveyed the play’s message in a contemporary setting, leaving a lasting impression on me. Admittedly, their precise comedic timing and dynamic portrayal held my attention from start to finish, and I departed the theatre both entertained and enlightened about the play’s underlying themes Play Analysis: The Taming of the Shrew Essay Paper.

References

Martin, F. D., & Jacobus, L. (2014). Humanities through the Arts. McGraw-Hill Education.

Shakespeare, W. (2002). The taming of the shrew. Cambridge University Press. Play Analysis: The Taming of the Shrew Essay Paper