The Taming of the Shrew

Recycled Shakespeare acting company is performing Shakespeare's "The Taming of the Shrew".

He is a proud man in search of a wealthy wife. She is a shrewish maid whose family wants to be rid of her. Could they be a perfect match? Recycled Shakespeare Company (RSC) celebrates its sixth season with one of Shakespeare’s funniest shows, The Taming of the Shrew. Four free performances are scheduled, with three different theatrical settings.

Two stage shows will be 7 p.m. Friday and Saturday, June 28 and 29, at Skills Inc. Ervin Center, 46 Front Street, Waterville. In RSC tradition, for the best view, pre-purchase a front row seat for a $10 donation. These seats and your donations help RSC continue to offer the rest of the seats and outdoor shows free of charge. To reserve your front row seats, please contact Lyn at 314-4730 or Emily at 314-8607 or visit signupforms.com/registrations/18923. Refreshments will be available.

Pizza and a Show will be at 7 p.m. at Fairfield House of Pizza on Saturday, July 6. Order off the menu and enjoy the show in a casual setting.

An open air performance will be held at 2 p.m. Sunday, July 7 in the amphitheater at Coburn Park, Skowhegan. Bring a chair or blanket to enjoy Shakespeare the traditional way – by the light of day. Refreshments will be available.

Joshua Fournier, of Fairfield, and Shana Page, of Clinton, lead the cast as Petruchio and Katharina, both shrewish in their own rite. Petruchio’s servants, Grumietta (Lyn Rowden, of Fairfield) and Jamie Leigh Curtis (Cindi Bailey, of Winslow) help him tame Katharina’s headstrong ways, but can she tame him? Baptista, played by Raymond Wing, of Waterville, is eager to marry his eldest daughter off but soon believes he has reason to regret the match. Meanwhile, Katharina’s sister, Bianca, played by Isabella Fernandez, of Strong, is pleased of her sister’s marriage for now she is eligible to marry one of her many suitors: Will it be Hortensio (Viktor Qadesh, of Fairfield) or Gremio (Helena Page, of Clinton) or Lucentio (Joseph E. Page, of Clinton)? Lucentio’s servant, Tranio, played by Omm Stilwell, of Vassalboro, has a plan to help Lucentio and Bianca to the altar, so long as the bumbling twins, Bea and Della, played by Maria S. Wark and Emily Rowden Fournier, both of Fairfield, remember to follow the plan. All seems well, until Petra (Janet Nadeau, of Winslow) and Vincentio (Joe Rowden, of Fairfield) both claim to be Lucentio’s father. Additional characters include a seamstress, Lynda Lemar, of Waterville; haberdasher, Grace “Baa” Dunton, of Alaska; widow, JennieAnn Guite, of Skowhegan; preacher, Leslie Page Jr., of Clinton; shopper, Angela Dunton, of Alaska; and courtesan, Liana LePlante, of Fairfield.

This production has been a collaborative effort of directors, Emily Rowden Fournier and Helena Page, as well as their assistant directors, Joseph E. Page and Isabella Fernandez. Each cast member has served on a production committee, assisting with costume, set, and props design as well as preparing the refreshments to be sold.

For more information about RSC, inquire about upcoming events, and to find out how to join the cast and crew, please visit RecycledShakespeare.org or call 314-8607.