Woman's Prize, or the Tamer Tamed

John Fletcher's comedy (probably written and performed around 1611) is a sequel to Shakespeare's The Taming of the Shrew, in which, as the title suggests, the tamer will be tamed. Petruchio, the shrew-tamer, has been widowed, and marries a second wife, Maria, a "chaste witty lady." At the instigation of her cousin Bianca, and with the fellowship of her sister Livia, Maria decides to go on strike for equal rights, refusing to behave as a proper 17th century wife. Fletcher's play addresses the issue of men and women's roles within marriage, a controversial issue for his day. (Summary by Elizabeth Klett) Cast Narrator/Bianca: Elizabeth Klett Moroso: Leonard Wilson Tranio: mb Sophocles: DublinGothic Jaques: Cliff Thompson Rowland: Libby Gohn Livia: Charlotte Duckett Maria: Arielle Lipshaw Petruchio: Kevin Green Petronius: Algy Pug Pedro: Timothy Ferguson First Maid/Country Wife/Doctor: Caprisha Page Second Maid/City Wife/Second Watch: Amanda Friday Third Maid/First Watch/Servant: Grace Garrett Audio edited by Elizabeth Klett