San Francisco's prize-winning American Conservatory Theatre's rowdy commedia dell'arte production incorporates slapstick, pratfall, and earthy humor into William Shakespeare's bawdy comedy about the two unmarried daughters of a wealthy Italian merchant. Older sister Kate matches her gentle and loveable sister Bianca in beauty, but in temperament leaves much to be desired; she is razor-tongued and strong-willed. Though Bianca has many suitors, her father will not allow her to marry until Kate has a husband of her own. No one dares to marry the foul-tempered Kate until Petrucchio arrives in Padua and tries his hand at courtship.
