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Taming of the Shrew

Recently I had the pleasure of watching Richard Burton and Elizabeth Taylor in a rendition of William Shakespeare's classic, The Taming of the Shrew, directed by Franco Zeffirelli. The Taming of the Shrew is a play in which two characters, Kate and Petruchio, gain their notoriety for being "madly mated."

Their relationship, being intense and comical from the beginning, keeps you on the edge of your seat in Zeffirelli's 1967 version of the play. With much of Luciento and Bianca's relationship left to the speculation of the viewer, Zeffirelli shifts the focus on the meat of the play, the growing attraction between Kate and Petruchio.

Through Zeffirelli's wisdom and insight, Taylor and Burton took their characters to new heights. By utilizing the attraction toward one another in real life, they created unforgettable characters and intense scenes not apparent in the original play and the play became a written testament of Shakespearean history. Zefferilli's film became the looking glass in which we partake of that history. This movie is a delightful adaptation of the Shakespearean novel and Zeffirelli presents it masterfully.

Taylor and Burton far exceed any expectations of their acting abilities in this film. Indeed, Kate and Petruchio, Taylor and Burton, were "madly mated."

Written by: Janelle Vernon

Reviewers Rating: 9
Reader's Rating: 7.88
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