By including the Induction and emphasizing the play-within-the-play aspect of Shrew, the Stratford Festival has done what a stage production can do best. It is both theatrical and playful.
Christopher Sly appears throughout, finally (equipped with lines from the bad quarto The Taming of a Shrew) going home to tame his own wife.
The violence was minimized, giving more attention to the combat of wits and the high spirits of Kate and Petruchio. Sharry Flett and Len Cariou bring enormous energy and sheer fun to their parts. For this production, the end result of Petruchio's behavior modification was not a broken or even subdued Kate, but a Kate who has seen through the layers of role playing to reality. When she realizes what Petruchio is up to, her enlightenment consists of a small "oh", then a larger one, followed by quiet laughter.
