The Shakespeare Conference: SHK 9.1070  Saturday, 31 October 1998.

[1]     From:   Jerry Carlson <This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.>
        Date:   Thursday, 29 Oct 1998 09:21:31 -0700
        Subj:   CHAT Re: NYC Bar Event

[2]     From:   Timothy Peterson <This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.>
        Date:   Fri, 30 Oct 1998 07:39:16 -0800 (PST)
        Subj:   Re: NYC Bar event


[1]-----------------------------------------------------------------
From:           Jerry Carlson <This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.>
Date:           Thursday, 29 Oct 1998 09:21:31 -0700
Subject:        CHAT Re: NYC Bar Event

>The Association of the Bar of the City of New York is presenting an
>evening entitled "TAMING OF THE SHREW: Katherina vs. Petruchio on
>Appeal."  This is apparently an argument on appeal of an imagined
>lawsuit brought by Kate against Petruchio.  The "Court" is comprised of
>rather distinguished state and federal court judges as well as Howard
>Kissel, theater critic of The Daily News.  The flier states that
>"Evidence from TS will be performed by professional actors and law
>professors."

This reminds me of when I played Grumio in _Shrew_, I thought about
facetiously asking a friend of mine, an attorney who specialized in
Worker's Comp, to represent me against my employers.  Petruchio would
knock me soundly, kick me, twist my ear, throw me up the stairs, throw
food and fellow servants at me, and throw me at the other servants.
Kate took a broom to me.

The punchline?  Said attorney was playing Kate!

[2]-------------------------------------------------------------
From:           Timothy Peterson <This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.>
Date:           Fri, 30 Oct 1998 07:39:16 -0800 (PST)
Subject:        Re: NYC Bar event

> The Association of the Bar of the City of New York is presenting an
> evening entitled "TAMING OF THE SHREW: Katherina vs. Petruchio on
> Appeal."  This is apparently an argument on appeal of an imagined
> lawsuit brought by Kate against Petruchio.  The "Court" is comprised of
> rather distinguished state and federal court judges as well as Howard
> Kissel, theater critic of The Daily News.  The flier states that
> "Evidence from TS will be performed by professional actors and law
> professors."

The performance last night played to a packed house and showcased an
interesting critical approach to Shakespeare.  Actors played out some
key scenes in the "evidence" before the court, followed by appellate
oral arguments from each character's attorney, appealling the mutual
grant of divorce and the distribution of assets as awarded by the lower
court (a "Justice Shallow").  Full briefs and reply briefs were provided
before the show.  It was a lot of fun to watch experienced lawyers
advocating the Kate or Petruchio position, and it was the perfect
mechanism for examining many of the more contentious issues in the play
that tend to upset a modern reader.  It was also very funny at times.

Someone in the back was videotaping, so if you're interested in seeing
the production for yourself, you might want to contact someone at
Hofstra.  (Don't ask me, I just walked in off the street).

--Tim Peterson

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