Witty banter between characters alongside a classic, comedic storyline make William Shakespeare’s “The Taming of The Shrew” a can’t-miss summer production.
The Performing Arts Center’s black box theatre entertained a full house during its Sunday, July 31 show as friends and family shuffled in to watch their loved ones take on the Shakespearean romantic comedy classic. “The Taming of the Shrew” had audience members laughing at the misfits and misfortunes of young adults as they navigated through life. The laughter from the crowd throughout the show served as evidence that the talented actors’ hard work had payed off.
John Loprieno, interim dean of performing arts, was delighted with the outcome of the performance.
“I think [the cast and crew] have done a fantastic job,” said Loprieno. “They are very high-energy, which I love. I think it is amazing when we do Shakespeare over the summer.”
The students had four-and-a-half weeks to learn lines, stage the show, prepare costumes and makeup, and perfect the overall performance, said Loprieno.
Kristofero Morales, 23-year-old theatre arts major, is no stranger to the stage, but has never performed a Shakespearean play before. However, that didn’t stop him from auditioning for the role of Tranio, his favorite character.
“I thought it would be amazing to actually be in a Shakespearean play and just get down with the language and perform it,” said Morales.
For Morales, it took a while to learn the Shakespearean language, but after reading and rereading the script along with the modern day english translation, Morales was ready to perform as Tranio.
“I loved working with all these talented, amazing actors,” said Morales. “They are like a family to me.”
Amanda Lee Morris, 23-year-old cosmetology major, auditioned on a whim and much to her surprise, landed the role of Bianca.
“I had planned to audition with a couple of classmates, but some of them bailed on me last minute,” said Morris. “I auditioned anyways.”
Although Morris had never done any sort of acting before, she loved discovering a world where she found a new passion and great friends.
“I loved making all these new friends,” said Morris. “They were nothing short of supportive and helpful. They made my first acting experience so much fun.”
“The Taming of The Shrew” holds performances at 8 p.m. on July 28-30 and Aug. 4-6. Both Sunday performances, July 31 and Aug. 7, begin at 2 p.m. Students, staff, and faculty tickets are $10, while adults are $15. Seating is extremely limited and tickets can be purchased at the box office or online by clicking on the link below.
http://www.moorparkcollege.edu/departments/academic/theatre-arts/performing-arts-center
