`Shrew' works with Wild West setting.

Byline: Lynne Klaft

FITCHBURG - Shakespeare's "Taming of the Shrew" set in 19th-century Wyoming, complete with saloon girls, bar fights and the Bard's original words - it all works in Fitchburg State College English professor Kelly C. Morgan's interpretation of the classic play.

"The play is sometimes viewed as sexist and demeaning to women in the idea of `taming' a woman, but the setting allows for a history lesson on those women who went West and dressed as men to be free from the strict norms of society in the East and other large cities," said Mr. Morgan.

The production is set in the 1880s just before Wyoming

attained statehood in 1890.

Women in what was then the Wyoming Territory were the nation's first to be granted the right to vote, in 1869, and were the first to serve on juries, in 1870. The state elected the nation's first woman governor, Nellie Ross, in 1924, and earned the nickname "The Equality State."

Recorded history bears Mr. Morgan out, with women traveling West dressed as men, and working as Pony Express riders, miners and workers on the continental railroad. Black women bore arms as Buffalo Soldiers in U.S. Army outposts.

The original 1590s comedy centers on Petruchio's courting of Kate, a headstrong, opinionated woman who will only marry for love.

Sara J. Cormier of Leominster, a junior in the Fitchburg State theater department, plays Kate.

"We considered changing Kate's final dialogue where she is transformed from a shrew to an obedient wife, but I wasn't comfortable changing Shakespeare's beautifully written words. So we are doing it as written, but with a lot of tongue in cheek and sarcasm. She's still empowered, just as strong as she was, but in a different way," said Ms. Cormier.

"This adaption gives the show a lot more character, and I think people will enjoy watching it," she said.

Mr. Morgan's setting in a Western saloon allows for dancing saloon girls and a barroom fight.

The fight scene, choreographed by Fitchburg's Amy DeMar, includes staged punches, kicking, hair pulling and a 9-foot fall from a balcony.

"Kelly's idea for the play was so intriguing, I couldn't say no. I just love this kind of stuff," said Ms. DeMar, who is teaching the actors the complicated art of throwing a punch without hurting each other and making it look real.

The play will include a dance number choreographed by Kate Rouleau of Ashburnham.

"We will be doing an authentic Western cancan, which is a lot more laid-back than the French version, a lot more stomping. We're being outfitted with authentic costumes, too, feathers, boas, corsets, shirts with ruffles," said Ms. Rouleau, who worked with fellow dancers Allison Tully and Brittany Larsen to research and choreograph the western style of dancing.

"Taming of the Shrew" opens April 22 with a free performance at 4:30 p.m. at McKay School Theater at Fitchburg State. Performances will be held April 23, 24, 25, 29, May 1 and 2 at 7:30 p.m.; April 26 at 2 p.m. and April 30 at 6 p.m. at the theater.

Tickets cost $10, $5 for students, staff and seniors.

For more information, call [phone].

ART: PHOTOS

PHOTOG:

CUTLINE: (1) Shannon Creedon as Grumio, left, and Reid Connell as Petruchio run through a scene in "The Taming of the Shrew" at Fitchburg State College's McKay Campus School. (2, 3 AND 4) Saloon girls, bar fights and Shakespeare's words come together in Fitchburg State College English professor Kelly C. Morgan's interpretation of "The Taming of the Shrew."