by William Shakespeare
“My mouth must speak of the anger in my heart, or else my heart will break if it keeps that anger hidden.”
Katharina in *The Taming of the Shrew*
Arrogant, scheming, and after a rich dowry—such are the suitors of the shy Bianca and the self-assured Katharina. The latter is to be married off—or rather, bought away from the marriage market—before her younger, coveted sister becomes available. To win her hand, therefore, it takes a crude lout who, driven by greed, marries Katharina along with her dowry. And in other respects, too, the marriage-hungry rivals stop at nothing: With feigned wealth, misogynistic courtship rituals, and a calculated identity swap, they vie for Bianca’s hand. And along the way, they court another bride who, while less lucrative, is easier to win over.
As slapstick as a screwball comedy, Shakespeare’s classic offers turbulent mix-ups, fast-paced dialogue, satire that exposes toxic masculinity, and an unvarnished look at social class differences and unequal gender relations.
In the process, macho posturing ends in ridiculous behavior, and many a conviction of being a “big shot” turns out to be a delusion. The same goes for the assumption that even a “taming of the shrew” can be achieved through violence, trickery, and humiliation. For no sooner are they married than these would-be alpha males find themselves confused—even stunned—to discover that their “trophies” are living, breathing individuals capable of commanding respect. How wonderful for everyone involved! A happy ending that invites both men and women to take a lighthearted look at themselves.
Born in Zagreb, actress, author, and theater and opera director Adriana Altaras studied in Berlin and New York and has directed productions in Berlin, Bern, Kassel, Heidelberg, Dresden, Potsdam, and Wiesbaden. In addition to her bestseller *Tito’s Glasses*, she has published the novels *Doitscha—A Jewish Mother Spills the Beans*, *Die jüdische Souffleuse* and *Besser allein als in schlechter Gesellschaft*, and has also worked at the Berlin University of the Arts and for the Shoah Foundation, founded by Steven Spielberg. In addition, she served as artistic director of the Jewish Culture Days in 2022 and received numerous awards, including the Federal Film Prize, the Theater Prize of the State of North Rhine-Westphalia, the Silver Bear for acting, and the German Audiobook Prize.
