Woman's Prize, or the Tamer Tamed

About this book

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) CastNarrator/Bianca: Elizabeth KlettMoroso: Leonard WilsonTranio: mbSophocles: DublinGothicJaques: Cliff ThompsonRowland: Libby GohnLivia: Charlotte DuckettMaria: Arielle LipshawPetruchio: Kevin GreenPetronius: Algy PugPedro: Timothy FergusonFirst Maid/Country Wife/Doctor: Caprisha PageSecond Maid/City Wife/Second Watch: Amanda FridayThird Maid/First Watch/Servant: Grace GarrettAudio edited by Elizabeth Klett