Review: 'The Taming of the Shrew' by Highlander Theatre Company

Waterbury, CT - The older students at Chase Collegiate School that make up the Highlander Theatre Co. presented ‘The Taming of the Shrew’ this weekend; their final performance will be on Monday morning for the other students at the Waterbury school. The evening performance that I attended was presented at the Fulkerson Arts Center on the Chase campus. The theatre space has been recently updated and it looked very different than I remembered.

The production is the culmination of a new residency program and partnership with the Waterbury-based Shakesperience Productions. "Shakesperience is a professional theater company founded in 1996 by Emily Mattina and Jeffrey Lapham, with a mission to educate and inspire students, families, and theater professionals through the arts," wrote Jennifer Zembruski, Director of Visual and Performing Arts at Chase Collegiate School. The company worked with the Chase Collegiate School students at their Waterbury campus throughout the rehearsal and performance process.

‘The Taming of the Shrew’ is one of the Bard's early comedies. This production is an adaptation of William Shakespeare’s play by Shakesperience Productions, Inc.’s Emily Mattina and Ms. Mattina served as the director of this first-time collaboration with Chase. "I am hopeful that this is the beginning of many more endeavors with Shakesperience in the future," Mrs. Zembruski wrote. The content of the play was a catalyst for conversation in the Chase English Department, led by Mary Sharnick, allowing for connections to the curriculum in the classroom. “In the end,” notes the author of the synopsis printed in the program, “two people who don’t fit in learn from each other how to laugh, play, love, and win.”

The Chase students appearing in the production all brought their best effort to the shortened two acts. Garrett Fisher '21, of Plantsville, did well as Baptista, the father of both the shrew and her sister. Maggie McGuire '20, of New Milford, was quite adorable as both Vencentio and a singer. Braeden Rose '21, of East Hampton, had fun in the role of Lucentio.

Joey Leszczynski '19, of Easton, took on the role of the brave Petruchio who takes on the challenge of taming the shrewish Katherina and he truly commanded the stage throughout. Meris Rosenberg '19, of Naugatuck, played both Gremio and a street musician. The multi-talented musician Michael Nejaime '18, of Torrington, played Hortensio, but he also played the onstage piano as well as guitar. Caelan-Gadwash-Meaden '18, of Sandy Hook, covered the role of Tranio in a cape. Trey Atkins '18, of Watertown, almost stole the show in the role of Petruchio’s servant Grumio and a street musician.

Angeline Guglielmo '19, of Waterbury, was Pedant, Phoebe DeRiu-Crowley '20, of Middlebury, was a tailor in a very funny scene. Emily Segal '21, of Southbury, played Peter, Stephanie Li '21, of Waterbury and Beijing, China, was Nathaniel and Fiona Ma '20, of Wolcott and Handan, China played the priest that married the unlikely couple.

Veronica Johnson '18, of Thomaston, can do it all and Shakespeare is no exception. She was a marvelously peevish Kate who believably softened by the end of the comedy. Kathleen Green '19, of Woodbury, spent the summer with Shakesperience as the blue Ariel in ‘The Tempest’ and here she was beautiful in the role of Kate’s usually mild sister Bianca. Her singing was one of the highlights of the evening.

While the costumes were Elizabethan, there was a hint of modernity in one scene that featured a Chase knitted hat (pronounced Cha - sé) that made the audience laugh, as did the appearance of a “special guest” Tom Harte.

Ms. Mattina was assisted by Shakesperience’s Nathanial Higgins and Mr. Stephen Lyons helped the sound and light crew. Mr. Brian Paturzo assisted with set design and construction and Claudia Gage served as costume mistress, with Ms. Lisa Carlson helping out with the wardrobe crew. Marissa Famigletti Apland was the vocal coach.

After the nicely produced curtain call, the seniors in the class were presented with a cup and a yellow rose and then the felt banner for the show was unveiled. Congratulations to the students and their mentors on a fine production. I discovered at this performance that the musical that Highlander has planned for the spring will be the very ambitious ‘Gypsy’ under the direction of the always amazing Marissa Perry. I will definitely be back in April to see it.