#where a real-life couple played Catherine and Petrucio whilst they were apparently having marital issues etc (which is the plot) | Explore Tumblr posts and blogs

twodoorsnotone · 2 years ago

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Ok but my professor encouraged me to watch Kiss Me Kate. I haven't watched it but listened to the soundtrack today and am currently reading the plot summary and it is fascinating. So many levels of meta in one little musical. So much theatre history in one show. I will not be able to be normal about this I fear.

#right so basically #the plot of the show #is that there are characters putting on a show of Taming of the Shrew #and the plot of the play in turn is inspired by a real production of Taming of the Shrew #where a real-life couple played Catherine and Petrucio whilst they were apparently having marital issues etc (which is the plot)#its just very cool #and i feel like theres gotta be something there about like meta #intertheatricality #even how the show positions the shrew-characters and actor-characters #like you know #petrucio and catherine being actually a divorced couple #obviously #but also #lucencio actually being a terrible gambler and the parallel between the external plot having the song 'why cant you behave'#and when its given to i believe an internal character later (i can't find it right now just trust me x)#also just generally having songs which use the shakespeare quotes etc #it's fun #the whole thing is very meta. the play's the thing and all that #also. DID I MENTION THE I HATE MEN SONG.#and theres a whole gangster subplot right and at one point the gangsters end up stuck on stage #and are forced to be in a musical number #which is one of my favourite tropes ever lolll #i enjoyed #kiss me kate

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