Taming of the Shrew

1) I've never read this play before, so reading it now after having seen "10 things I hate about you" is interesting. I'm doing my best to create new characters, and I'm almost there, it's just that now they are dressed up in victorian style clothing, and have British accents...sometimes speaking Italian. Wierd..I know, it's just that that's all I got for now. I just see these characters on a small stage, dealing very intensly with one another. Their conversations are quick and sharp, there is no time to lag. The only time I got that there was a pause in conversation was only if one of the guys were plotting something. I love the way that they interact with one another, especially the guys with their servants. I also like the fact that the servants are more of companions or partners in crime as opposed to slaves, per say.
2) The scene for humor sake that I have selected is in Act II when they all come to Baptista’s house. Petruchio presents Hortensio Also, Petruchio is introducing himself as a suitor for Katharina. This whole conversation was entertaining because I could see Baptista’s face a little confused because a man is actually there complimenting Katharina and calling her “fair and virtuous”. It seems as though that the more he pleads his case, the more twisted Baptista’s faces gets. Petruchio goes through this laundry list of compliments of Katharina, all the while knowing that Katharina is none of those things. The way this scene appears to be depicted is with Petruchio searching within himself for the words to conjur up to try and convince Baptista that his pursuit of the eldest daughter is sincere. I think that because the situation is so obviously humorous, it actually turns itself around to make Baptista believe it. Petruchio also makes his intentions obvious when he askes about what kind of dowry will be given. That transparency makes the situation that much more humorous, because Baptista seems to not catch it. Baptista is lulled into the belief that his daughter is honestly being persuaded, while Petruchio’s plan is going exactly as anticipated.