By Josh Wainright, PPT

One of Shakespeare’s earliest comedies, PPT’s next youth production, “Taming of the Shrew,” opens at the Norvell Theater Feb. 19. Filled with slapstick humor, disguises and deception, it’s the classic “battle of the sexes” story.

In the Italian city of Padua, a rich young man named Lucentio (Andrew Prater) arrives to attend the local university. Excited to begin his studies, his priorities change the moment he lays eyes on Bianca (Mackenzie Stall), a beautiful, mild young woman with whom he immediately falls in love.  The problem is, Bianca already has two suitors, Gremio (Tanner Groppi) and Hortensio (Jonah Evans); not to mention, Bianca’s father Baptista (Jason Matthews), will not allow her to be courted until her sister, the vicious, ill-tempered Katherine, is married.

Enter Hortensio’s friend, Petruchio (Ben Zino), a money-grubbing man from Verona, who arrives in town in search of a wife. With the sole intention of marrying a rich woman, he decides to marry Kate (sight unseen) despite the fact that she has a reputation for destroying men with her words. The hilarity ensues as Petruchio attempts to transform the aggressive and bad-tempered Katherine into the obedient, mild-mannered wife that society demands.

“Shrew” remains one of the most performed and adapted plays in Shakespeare’s body of work.  The most popular adaptations include Cole Porter’s 1948 Broadway musical “Kiss Me Kate,” the 1999 teen film “10 Things I Hate About You,” and the 1967 film version of the play starring Elizabeth Taylor.

If you’ve ever felt pressured to conform to somebody else’s expectations and values (at school, home, or in a relationship), you’ll like the way this play makes you think about what exactly that means.

Will Katherine submit to Petruchio’s will and obey her husband’s every whim or will her evil ways and quick-wit prevail?

Show Dates:  Feb. 19 and 26 at 7:30 p.m., Feb. 20 and 27 at 2:30 p.m. and 7:30 p.m.

Ticket prices: Adults $10, students/seniors $8.  Tickets go on sale Monday.  Call 704-633-5471 or purchase  online at piedmontplayers.com

Meet The Cast

Petruchio -Ben Zino

Katherine -Sarah Hallett

Bianca -Mackenzie Stall

Lucentio -Andrew Prater

Hortensio -Jonah Evans

Gremio -Tanner Groppi

Baptista -Jason Matthews

Grumio -Ali Khatib

Widow -Brittney Hogan

Tranio -Hunter Cates

Vencentio -Elijah Carpenter

Baptista’s servant -Amery Barton

Haberdasher -Tori Isenhour

Tailor -Rachel Nuotilla

Sherrif -Christian Rape

Servant/Curtis -Garrett Jennings

Servant/Walter -Sara Beth Richard

Servant/and the Rest -Laura Bullock

Servant -Chloe Corley,  Julianna Evans,  Jaxon Evans,  Lila Jane Rosser,  Hannah Wells,  Meghan Maxey,  Bailey Zino

Stage Manager -Maddie Laity