#portersshrew

Please introduce yourself! Where do you hail from? Who are you playing in Shrew?

Hello, all! My name is Evan Isaac Lipkin, and I have the great honor of playing Bianca Minola in the Porters’ gender-swapped production of Taming of the Shrew. I hail from Kalamazoo (Michigan) and Chicago and now call this weird LA land my home.

Give us a quick summary of the play from your character's point of view!

The main action of Taming starts with all of the eligible bachelors in Padua (or more accurately, an old fart and a buffoon) pining over Bianca. Bianca's father, Baptista, uses her as a figurative honeypot to find a suitor for his eldest daughter Katherine - the namesake Shrew - not allowing Bianca to marry until the elder is wed. Suddenly suitors don disguises to win over Bianca, and of course hijinks ensue.

Tell us a bit about your history with Shakespeare.

Like so many kids in my generation, I was introduced to Shakespeare by the Baz Luhrmann “R + J” - which, quite frankly, made my developing brain explode a bit. It wasn't until high school where I had the great pleasure to fall in love with the twisty, vibrant, and deeply human texts (Hamlet, Macbeth, and Othello specifically). I fell in love with these complicated characters and the mesmerizing language - I mostly had no idea what was happening, but that only made me hungry for more. Since then I've performed in over 10 of the bards plays, and have lost track of how many times I've worked on Shakespeare in classes. It is a gift that keeps giving - every time I read a text or see one performed I hear something new and understand more deeply. Long may it continue!

This production of Shrew is gender-reversed. How do you feel about it?

I love it. As well constructed of a play as this is (really, it is) and as funny as this play is (really! It is!), Taming of the Shrew has got some...problems. Some big, bad "does this story have a place in our post #metoo world" problems. I mean, Petruchio starves Katherine, doesn't allow her to sleep for days, beats his servants and disrespects her in front of everyone she knows. Gremio and Tranio/Lucentio barter for Bianca like a very fine piece of real estate. Our more "traditional" love story (Bianca/Lucentio) never actually shows Bianca explicitly giving consent or love to her suitor. I think seeing this story - these relationships, these characters, these actions - with the gender reversed gives the audience a chance to process and digest. There's room to say "oh god, that's messed up" - with a belly laugh, not a growl of outrage. I hope the outrage comes after  - the thought of "I've seen this behavior before," and a freedom to consider what that means to us now. Shakespeare has written a beautiful, balanced, bitingly satirical play...we just need some help seeing it now.

Just as importantly, reversing the gender allows some badass ladies to breath new life into these characters. I must be part cat, because I've died laughing at least 7 or 8 times in the past few months. Treat yo'self - watch these commanding women tear this stage asunder.

What's your favorite quote (or two) from the play?

Sit by my side, and let the world slip: we shall ne'er be younger.

My tongue will tell the anger of my heart, or else my heart concealing it will break.

Finally, where can people find out more about you and what you're up to

Follow me on all sorts of social media - all platforms as @evanisaaclipkin.

“Of course the cast is brilliant... they are chosen by Hellsgate, after all.”

photo by Roy Cox

Please introduce yourself! Where do you hail from? Who are you playing in Shrew?

My name is Lauren Jean Lee! I am originally from Burke, Virginia and I am so thrilled to be playing Petruchio in the Porters’ production of The Taming of the Shrew!

Give us a quick summary of the play from your character's point of view!

Petruchio has come to Padua for one reason and one reason alone: to find a wealthy woman to marry. He is introduced Kate and is pleasantly surprised when she isn’t just like every other woman he has been with. She challenges him and it is clear that marriage is not really on her list of things to do. This is refreshing to Petruchio and he is a bit amused by a scrappy woman, so he tells Kate’s father that they are to be married. At every twist and turn, Kate refuses to obey him, but he will not give up. He spends almost the entirety of the play acting as a madman in order to exhaust her into place. Does he win her? You’ll have to wait and see!

photo by John Bonenberger

Tell us a bit about your history with Shakespeare.

I absolutely adore working on Shakespeare. There are so many different ways you can interpret all of his works and make them relevant to everyone at any point in time and I just think that is so special.

This production of Shrew is gender-reversed. How do you feel about it?

I love that this production is gender-reversed! I am having so much fun playing this character. It truly isn’t someone I get to play very often. Our discussions have been lively and full of difficult questions. It has been so incredible to work with so many powerful women and men and I really love that in the end, it isn’t about men vs. women, but rather equality and appreciation for both people in a partnership.

photo by Annie Hulcher

What's your favorite quote (or two) from the play?

Grumio says “Cock’s Passion!” Did a lot of people say cock’s passion? I feel like everyone said that one.  Also, I say “A whoreson beetle-headed flapp-eared knave” and I really enjoy that.

Finally, where can people find out more about you and what you're up to?

You can find everything about me on my website www.laurenjeanlee.com!

photo by Chris Popio

Please introduce yourself! Where do you hail from? Who are you playing in Shrew?

I'm Dawn Alden, and I'm playing Baptista in Shrew.  I hail from New England, by way of Chicago.

Give us a quick summary of the play from your character's point of view!

I have these two daughters that should have been married and out of the house a LONG time ago, but my older daughter Kate has made it her mission to turn away any and all prospective suitors just out of a sense of spite, while my younger daughter Bianca has to beat them off with a stick.  I decided to speed up the whole wedding train by vowing not to make a match for my popular daughter, until I am sure my Kate is going to have a husband of her own.  Brilliant, right?  And it worked!  Not long after I laid down that law, along comes the son of an old friend of mine, and he not only wants my older daughter, he wins her!  And then he explains everything:  this "shrew" thing was just an act that Kate was putting on until the right man came along!  It makes so much sense!  So, even though the whole wedding was some kind of weird performance art piece, I was very happy to see Kate happily married and out of the damn house.Then there was some kerfuffle about Lucentio and his servant pretending to be each other, but his father's money came through just fine, and then Bianca was married and out of the house as well.  No more sisterly squabbles day and night, no more suitors knocking on the door and sending messengers at all hours.  FINALLY, I got my peace and quiet.  I'll be in the orchard if you need me.

photo by Chris Popio

Tell us a bit about your history with Shakespeare.

I've been a fan of Shakespeare since high school, when I got to see a professional production of Othello on a school field trip.  My best friend and I made a pact over the summer to read the entirety of the Shakespeare canon and then discuss it with each other. So I've been a Shakespeare Nerd since way back. Years later, when applying to grad schools, I made sure to choose one that had strong classical training and a summer Shakespeare company associated with it (Three Rivers Shakespeare in Pittsburgh, PA). Passed over for the lead roles in Three River's productions in favor of out-of-town actors, the other grad students and I founded our own "Young Company" and were so successful that we were eventually enfolded into the larger company and supported by them. When I moved to Chicago, with my stage combat training paving the way, I joined a theatre company that did all-female Shakespeare, and there was a time in my career when I had played more male that female roles from the Shakespearean canon.  

Taming of the Shrew can be a controversial play. How do you feel about it?

This is my third production of Taming of the Shrew.  In both my previous productions, I played Petruchio, and I have to admit, I have a LOT of issues with the play.  There is no doubt it is beautifully written, of course, but try as I might, there is no way to compensate for the fact that Petruchio takes away Kate's agency.  Regardless of whether or not she exacerbates the situation, regardless of whether he does what he does to teach her a lesson she needs to learn, the bottom line remains that she has no agency, and that she is forced to adapt or die.  And yes, I understand that times were different, blah blah blah, but it is now the year 2019, and if you are going to produce this play, you need to have an opinion about Petruchio's abuse, and that opinion needs to be dealt with in the production.  The angle we are taking with this Porters’ production is one I haven't seen before, so I am curious to see if it will convey what we are hoping it will about the issue.

photo by Chris Popio

What's your favorite quote (or two) from the play?

Well, come my Kate, we will unto your fathers,

Even in these honest meane habiliments:

Our purses shall be proud, our garments poore:

For 'tis the minde that makes the bodie rich.

And as the Sunne breakes through the darkest clouds,

So honor peereth in the meanest habit.

What is the Jay more precious then the Larke?

Because his feathers are more beautifull.

Or is the Adder better then the Eele,

Because his painted skin contents the eye.

Oh no good Kate: neither art thou the worse

For this poore furniture, and meane array.

Finally, where can people find out more about you and what you're up to?

Websites:  

dawnalden.com, Vicariousfilms.com, FB: Dawn Sam Alden, Twitter: dawnsam13

Please introduce yourself! Where do you hail from? Who are you playing in Shrew?

Whitton Frank, originally from Nor Cal, but Los Angeles has completely seduced me for the last 8 years. I play Grumio.

Give us a quick summary of the play from your character's point of view!

I am here to support, wing woman, and protect my main gal Petruchio.  I love an adventure,  a bit of tomfoolery, and I never back down from a fight.  Sometimes it can be tough having your best friend as a boss, but in the end I am happy to help Petruchio win the day, at whatever the cost.

Tell us a bit about your history with Shakespeare.

This is my second show with the Porters, and I am so excited to be back.  Everyone in the company truly loves the work and is willing to give up a lot of time to make these productions as fabulous as possible.

Shakespeare has always had a special place in my heart.  I love how it combines so many fine arts into one.  Acting, poetry, and music are all a crucial part of these plays.   They are at once, very of their time and completely timeless.  I can think of few other pieces of art that have had so much influence on our culture.  I have been privileged to perform in many of these plays and I look forward to working on many more.

This production of Shrew is gender-reversed. How do you feel about it?

I think many plays and this one in particular can benefit from non traditional casting. With a play that derives so much of its humor from the gender norms of its time, swapping the characters genders really highlights what was considered acceptable or expected behavior, especially if you are a man.  I am intrigued to see how audiences respond to the amount of violence and sexism in this play when it is instigated by women in the positions/roles of power.  

What's your favorite quote (or two) from the play?

Cock’s passion, silence!

Finally, where can people find out more about you and what you're up to?

www.whittonfrank.com

https://www.instagram.com/thesoulisabird/

https://www.facebook.com/WhittonAnneFrank/

Please introduce yourself! Where do you hail from? Who are you playing in Shrew?

Hey everyone! My name is Jill Penfold. I hail from the U.K. Essex to be precise. I have been in L.A for almost 11 years..yikes! and I love it. Nothing beats a blue sky.  I am proud to play Vincentio and Curtis and Baptista's flamboyant servant.

Give us a quick summary of the play from your character's point of view!

As Vincentio, this is a tale of finding out what the heck my son (Lucentio) has been up to while away from home. Only to find out he's gone and got himself married...and used some trickery along the way. The little so 'n' so.

Tell us a bit about your history with Shakespeare.

I was first introduced to Shakespeare when I auditioned for Lady Macbeth in 2004. I landed the role of Macbeth. I then toured for 3 months around the UK and had a blast. During my theatre days in the UK I worked with different theatre companies .... I especially love touring.

This production of Shrew is gender-reversed. How do you feel about it?

As I've already played a gender neutral Macbeth, this is amazing. It's a very current and fresh perspective on how society plays a huge role in how one conducts oneself in public and how we conform to the norm without question. I love seeing the women in the play hold themselves in a dominate role. 

What's your favorite quote (or two) from the play?

By this reckoning, he is more SHREW than she.

Pretty much sums it all up. Well done Curtis!!

Finally, where can people find out more about you and what you're up to?

You can all find me on IG www.instagram.com/jillpenfold or contact details are on my website www.jillpenfold.com.