Play Review: ‘The Tamer Tamed’ at the Walterdale Theatre 

The Tamer Tamed, directed by Joyanne Rudiak, kicked off the Walterdale Theatre’s 68th season of [Re]Write Your Story. The play, originally written by John Fletcher only a few decades after William Shakespeare’s The Taming of the Shrew, is a comedic sequel that subverts gender norms of the time. The story follows Petruchio, played by Kris Loranger, in his marriage to his new wife, Maria. Katelyn Arthurs brings the character of Maria to life, where (as the title may suggest) she tames the tamer. Rudiak’s rewrite of the comedy kept the audience enthralled with the constant, but well-timed comedic moments. 

Much like in Fletcher’s original play, Maria is not the only one who takes on the role of the tamer. Ren Elliot plays the character of Livia, Maria’s younger sister, who uses her wits to defy gender expectations and marry the one she truly loves. 

Elliot and Arthurs’ performances kept the audience, including myself, on their toes, wondering just what they might scheme up next. From quite literally having a battle of the sexes to faking illness, there was never a dull moment.

However, the one aspect found to be lacking through all the various scenes was the set design. Though it’s not plausible to have entirely different sets throughout the play, the design may have benefitted from being a little less abstract. While an abstract design might work for some plays, the contrast between it and the Jacobean era costumes was distracting. 

The set design wasn’t the only thing that clashed. The costumes were mostly made up of Jacobean or Elizabethan attire, but a handful of actors were dressed in modern day outfits. Sometimes, the two eras were even mixed together creating a Frankenstein outfit. The strange mix of the two created an even more confusing experience. Although the setting is listed as Jacobean to modern day, it may have been better to pick a more specific period. 

The big difference in time period wasn’t the only gap in the play. Darek Burdziuk’s performance as Rowland left nothing to be desired. In fact, the heartfelt performance is the only thing that saved this casting. The visible age difference between Elliott and Burdziuk was no secret. Yet the close intimacy of the Walterdale Theatre’s stage to the audience made it even more noticeable. While the two actors gave a compelling performance in their characters’ desire for one another, you can’t help but think about how big the age gap really is. Considering that Livia and Rowland are supposed to be young lovers, the choice to have an age gap is definitely an interesting one.

Even though there may have been some jarring moments to the play, Rudiak’s re-write of The Tamer Tamed was an enjoyable experience overall. The actors skillfully carried out the comedic elements, and the lighting and sound production helped to further set the mood between each scene. Knowing that this gender role defying play was originally written in the 1600s makes it worth the watch alone, but the laughter-inducing moments are the cherry on top.

The Tamer Tamed will be performed at the Walterdale Theatre until October 24, so catch it while you still can.