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ratings: ★★★★☆ (4/5)
Genre: Drama / Comedy / Shakespearean Comedy

Book Review:
''The Taming of the Shrew'' is Shakespeare's most controversial comedy, and it's impossible to watch or read it without grappling with its depiction of gender. It tells the story of Kate, the ''shrew,'' and Petruchio, the man who decides to ''tame'' her. Their battle of wills is hilarious, chaotic, and deeply unsettling. Petruchio's methods—starving her, confusing her, gaslighting her—are brutal, and Kate's final speech, in which she argues for complete female submission, has been the source of endless debate for centuries. Is it meant to be taken seriously? Is it satire? Is Kate in on the joke? Modern productions have to find a way to make it work. What's undeniable is the comic energy of the play. The scenes between Petruchio and Kate are electric, and the subplot with Bianca and her suitors is classic romantic comedy. It's a challenging, fascinating play. This Cambridge edition has an excellent introduction that tackles these issues head-on. Worth reading and wrestling with.