From a press release:
Montford Park Players opens “Taming of the Shrew,” Aug. 1
For the third show of their free summer season, the Montford Park Players are delighted to present one of William Shakespeare’s bawdiest comedies: The Taming of the Shrew. Local favorite for acting and singing, Dwight Chiles, makes his directing debut at the helm of this spectacular production, and he is putting his own personal twist and pizzazz on this one…PIRATES! That’s right. Montford regulars Kristi DeVille and Badi Mirheli lead this fast-paced, wacky production a la pirates. Mirheli plays the rough-spun, angry pirate version of Petruchio who shows up at the door of the affluent and haughty home of Katherina to tame her fiery heart (or perhaps introduce it to a world more suited to her abrasive disposition). New-comer Devyn Ray, playing Kate’s younger sister Bianca, and recent addition to the Montford family Henry Williamson (who just led England into battle in the epic production of Henry V), among many others, fill out this exciting and high energy cast.
“Taming of the Shrew is not about Team Kate versus Team Petruchio,” says Chiles, “It’s Team Kate and Petruchio versus the world…Kate and Petruchio are a case of love at first sight…every scene they share involves shared lines of poetry, the two essentially finish each other’s sentences. Kate and Petruchio have this synchronicity from the moment they meet.”
Erin Owens has created a beautiful set, filled out with ingenious lights from Abby Auman, props by Marissa Mello, and fabulous pirate costumes by Victoria Smith. Kristi DeVille, while taking on the leading lady, also choreographed three fascinating dances that will put you in the perfect mind set for a raunchy pirate show. So raise a glass and come out for a wonderful comedy under the stars. It plays Friday through Sunday, August 1 – 23, at 7:30 PM, at the Hazel Robinson Amphitheatre, located at 92 Gay Street in Asheville. More information can be found by calling (828) 254-5146 or online at www.montfordparkplayers.org. Lawn chair rentals can be made here.
An opening night champagne reception will follow the opening night performance on Friday, August 1, and regular Saturday Q&A’s will be held before the show from 6:30 – 7:15 PM in the audience, with production staff members and actors available to talk about the show and answer questions.
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