麻豆影院

The Colorado Shakespeare Festival is set to kick off its landmark 60th season in style with a swing-era production of 鈥溾�濃�攖he same play that opened CSF鈥檚 very first festival in 1958.

CSF reimagines Shakespeare鈥檚 zany comedy听by setting it in New York City just after World War II. Kate, a plucky pilot who鈥檚 just returned from the war, meets her stubborn match, Petruchio, on the vibrant streets of Little Italy. As the two duke it out in a battle of wits and dance the night away, they discover, against all odds, a mutual respect that鈥檚 almost like being in love.

鈥淪hrew鈥� director听, a longtime fight director and Oregon Shakespeare Festival veteran, wanted to set the play in the 1940s to explore that era鈥檚 鈥渞adical break in gender roles.鈥� During the war, women everywhere kept the economy running by stepping into men鈥檚 jobs 鈥� and when the war was over, many refused to return to their subservient lives.

鈥淚n our play, Kate was a Women Airforce Service Pilot within the war effort, and she has since come back home to find there are limited options,鈥� DuVal says. 鈥淗er father expects her to settle down and get married, but Kate sees herself as a rightful and very deserving equal of men.鈥�

DuVal emphasizes that CSF鈥檚 production isn鈥檛 about a man who tames a woman. It鈥檚 about two people who learn about themselves and about each other as they fall in love.

鈥淧etruchio is as tamed by Kate as she is tamed by him,鈥� DuVal says. 鈥淭hey find out that they complement each other deeper than they ever thought possible.鈥�

Both of this production鈥檚 leads,听听补苍诲听听have played Kate and Petruchio before in other parts of the country. Now that they鈥檙e a little bit older and a little bit wiser, they鈥檙e excited to bring more complexity and life experience to these characters.

In the 12 years since she听听at the Utah Shakespeare Festival, Gaza says, 鈥渕y concept of being a good partner and spouse has completely evolved. I think relationships are about give and take, and that鈥檚 true for Kate and Petruchio, too: The journey is not about taming Kate, it鈥檚 about Kate and Petruchio both learning to become good people for each other.鈥�

Coopwood likes Petruchio鈥檚 wit, charm and bravado, and he鈥檚 excited to see how those characteristics look on an older, wiser protagonist鈥攐ne who鈥檚 been hardened by years of searching for a soulmate.

鈥淜ate and Petruchio challenge each other, and that鈥檚 what they鈥檝e been lacking in other relationships,鈥� he says. 鈥淭hey have to get over the thought that, 鈥榃ell, this has never worked before.鈥� But they鈥檙e absolutely meant for each other and they do legitimately fall in love.鈥�

While he loves the comic relief, Coopwood says he鈥檚 itching to delve into the play鈥檚 elements of romance and self-discovery鈥攕omething he didn鈥檛 get to do the first time he played Petruchio a decade ago.

鈥淚 come across as a pretty intimidating person, but I have a gooey chocolate center,鈥� he says. 鈥淐oming at it 10 years later, I want more of the heart.鈥�