Postmodern Shakespeare: 'Taming of the Shrew'

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RAPIDLY MOVING DIALOGUE punctuated by frequent, humorous breakaways into characters' fantasies — on television, that would be the way "Scrubs" energized the stale sitcom format.

On stage, that would be the way Shakespeare Theatre Company energized the Shakespeare format with "The Taming of the Shrew."

"Scrubs" quick-cut surreal-vignette device seems natural to "Shrew" in Rebecca Bayla Taichman's deft conceptualization — almost as if the Bard himself penned in bits of rapid-fire glimpses into his characters' imaginations — and, while purists are sure to furrow their brows at these shenanigans, such visualization evokes plenty of well-earned laughs.

The comedy portrays the courting and transformation of two sisters, Katherine (Charlayne Woodard) and Bianca (Lisa Birnbaum), whose marital fates are linked to a paternal decree.

This modernized script freely goes over-the-top whenever it pleases and often shoots for outright slapstick. Those who think Petruchio (played by the fantastic Christopher Innvar) — who marries older sister Katherine — showing up to his ceremony wearing a wedding dress is too much of a break from Shakespeare's intent may disapprove. But the audience's laughter suggests these literalists are in the minority.

Like so many of Shakespeare's works, the language of "The Taming of the Shrew" is packed with not-so-subtle innuendo. Taichman's take doesn't shy away from the naughty verbal play, occasionally hamming it up to a surprising level of raunchiness.

Big acting in general doesn't seem to have been discouraged, either, a choice that makes Louis Buttelli's comically zany portrayal of Petruchio's servant Grumio particularly welcome.

While certainly untraditional — not that "traditionally Shakespearean" is a known quantity — Taichman's stylistic adjustments keep this "Shrew" moving quickly, and the laughs coming. In fact, you may have a surreal daydream of your own and imagine Zach Braff himself walking out on-stage.

» Lansburgh Theatre, 450 7th St. NW; through Nov. 18, $35.50-$74.75; 202-547-1122

Photos by Scott Suchman