Play all around campus with KCST's 'Taming of the Shrew'

Normally, Columbia undergrads are content experiencing Shakespeare in Lit Hum classrooms, but once a year King’s Crown Shakespeare Troupe performs a play from the English great, starting on the steps of Low Library and moving to a new location for each scene.

KCST will be performing “The Taming of the Shrew” this Thursday, April 28, at 8 p.m.; Friday, April 29, at 11:59 p.m.; and Saturday, April 30, at 9 p.m.

This Shakespearean comedy’s plot is a story within a story. A mischievous lord has a play performed for his amusement that depicts the courtship between the headstrong Kate and the impervious Petruchio, who is determined to tame her.

But in the words of producer Dan Aprahamian, CC ’12, the show can be boiled down to “what you’ll do for a girl.”

The comedy features Madalena Provo, BC ’12, as the “shrew” in question, Kate.

“I’ve been involved with King’s Crown since my first semester. I assistant-directed the outdoor spring show last year,” Provo said. “I always enjoy doing Shakespeare and especially enjoy the way KCST does it.”

KCST publicist Lisa Mack, SEAS ’14, explained the way in which KCST’s spring performance differs from other Shakespearean productions. “Columbia’s campus has a unique beauty,” Mack said. “We try to take advantage of that by having the show travel around the campus, with each show [scene] in front of a different building.”

Mack also described the club’s unique internal structure. “KCST operates less like a club and more like a family, and this carries over into the casting process,” she said. “Every year, for the spring show, everyone who auditions is cast.”

Aprahamian discussed the themes in Shakespeare’s seminal comedy.

“‘Taming of the Shrew’ is a hilarious show, but it also touches on sensitive issues,” he said. “The gender issues in the show are always difficult to address, yet the directing team and the actors have managed to deal with them appropriately while still putting on a fun show.”

KCST encourages all to attend the performances, regardless of any aversion some may have to Shakespeare. Aprahamian, a computer engineering major, said he has never had a problem understanding or relating to “The Taming of the Shrew” when he sees it performed.

“The show still feels relevant, and the jokes are still funny. It really is a great show,” he said. “Plus, since the show is an immersive experience, you don’t just watch a play—you get a night of fun.”

This Saturday, one could theoretically see the Varsity Show, Das Racist, Snoop Dogg, and “The Taming of the Shrew” all in one day. “The Taming of the Shrew” offers a bit of lighthearted culture and campus appreciation to end an entertainment-packed night.