The Taming OF The Shrew
Louise Gold
starred in the title role, as Katherina, at Nuffield Theatre Southampton, 22
April - 15 May 1993
Prior to
the play’s opening, one of the local newspapers in the area (probably The
Southern Evening Echo) interviewed Leading man Jason Connery during a photo
session, at which the ladies of the production were also present, and
“Judging by
banter and teasing from his female co-stars during the photo session, they have
no problem keeping Jason in his place” Sue Wilkinson (probably Southern
Evening Echo), Weekend of 24-25 April 1993
Cast
The Hostess - Nicola Blackman
Christopher Sly - Clive Flint
The Lord - Bernard Brown
Bartholomew The Page - Richard Karlsson
Lucentio, in love with Bianca - Grant Parsons
His Servants:
Tranio - Mac Andrews
Biondello - Richard Karlsson
Baptista - Philip Lowrie
His Daughters:
Bianca - Rebecca Lacey
Katherina - Louise Gold
Suitors to Bianca:
Gremio - Roy Boutcher
Hortensio - Martin Ball
Petruchio - Jason Connery
His Servants:
Grumio - Stephen Bent
Curtis - Nicola Blackman
A Tailor - Bernard Brown
Vincentio, Lucentio’s Father - Bernard Brown
A Widow - Nicola Blackman
Additional Cast Members: - Helen Plunkett and Chris Carter
Production Team
Author -
William Shakespeare
Original Production – circa 1592-1594, company unknown.
Director/Producer - Patrick Sanderford
Set & Costume Designer -
Lighting Designer - Stephen Watson
Deputy Stage Manager (This production) - Nicola Wingfield
Set Construction - Harris Bros, with Bridge & Staircase by Miraculous Engineering
Company & Stage Manager (Nuffield Theatre) - Julien Boast
Deputy Stage Manages (Nuffield Theatre) - Nicola Wingfield and Karen Whitting
Assistant Stage Managers - Helen Plunkett and Chris Carter
Programme Editor - Timothy Ramsden
The production
credits (listed in the programme) include the following:
“Special Thanks to Mollie Guilfoyle of The
“The cast
were eating Micro-Chefs during this production supplied by Brooke Bond Foods
Ltd”
“With
thanks to Manor Bakeries, makers of the Mr Kipling’s Manor House Cake which is
eaten by the cast in each performance”
Leading Lady Louise
Gold’s resume in the programme looks strangely short, and her puppeteering
credits are conspicuous by their absence. You could never even guess from
reading this programme that the actress playing The Shrew, is actually one of
the great ladies of British television puppetry! In many programmes (of the
1980’s and very early 1990’s) they were simply disguised as ‘voice work’
but in this instance, they are not there at all.
The dates of
this production overlaps with The Lost Musicals production of Du
Barry Was A Lady (1993 Production) in which Louise was also playing the title
role; So some Sunday's found Louise back in London appearing on the stage of
Barbican Cinema 1.
Philip Lowrie had previously appeared on television in Rita
Rudner, and has gone on to appear in television in Coronation Street.
Four years
later Louise Gold and the role of The Shrew crossed paths again,
in the New Shakespeare Company's production of Kiss Me Kate at Regents
Park Open Air Theatre
Programme editor Timothy Ramsden, went on to review Next Door’s Baby.
Nicola Blackman may have previously taken part in Thing
A Thon.
Critics Comments
"Her
final words on wifely obedience, so often a stumbling block, here come off
remarkably well" Jason Best, THE STAGE, 27 May 1993
"Louise Gold's transformation as Kate is tinged
with mischief." Southern Evening Echo
Links about The Taming Of The Shrew
