It takes gumption to stage a play like Shakespeare’s “The Taming of the Shrew” at a time when gender inequality is a growing concern.(And that’s before you take into account the challenges of performing it in Bryant Park in Manhattan, with passing planes overhead, fickle microphones and crowd noises from the Bryant Park Grill.)
After all, this comedy, at least on its face, is about a husband breaking the will of his hot-tempered wife. But the Drilling Company(the troupe behind Shakespeare in the Parking Lot) has taken it on and sweetened some of its aftertaste.
This is a Shakespeare comedy, so you have servants disguising themselves as nobles; suitors disguising themselves as an academic and a music tutor to reach Bianca; and a Pedant(Jack Sochet) disguising himself as Lucentio’s father. If it sounds confusing, it can be. But two supporting actors stand out: the sprightly Jarrod Bates as Tranio, Lucentio’s wingman, and Eric Paterniani, evincing an Italian accent with Pythonesque zeal as Petruchio’s second, Grumio.