Vinegar Girl

February 29, 2016
In the latest of Hogarth’s Shakespeare series, Pulitzer-winner Tyler transposes the famously shrewish Kate and her would-be master Petruchio to Tyler country—Baltimore’s genteel Roland Park neighborhood. There, preschool assistant Kate Battista takes care of her widowed father and much younger, conventionally prettier sister, both of whom take her for granted—that is, until her scientist father decides that the way to keep Pyotr, his research assistant, from losing his visa is for Kate to marry him. Considering Dr. Battista’s maladroit personality and Pyotr’s blunt and sometimes overly literal approach, Kate, who is less shrewish than plainspoken, actually seems quite patient. Though farcical in parts, Shakespeare’s play has a dark strand—Petruchio is borderline abusive, and critics are divided about whether Kate’s speech calling for women to obey their husbands is meant to be sincere, ironic, or perhaps a sign of love. In Tyler’s version, Kate’s speech is supportive of Pyotr, and defensible. Which makes sense, since Kate and Pyotr, despite their untoward and hasty courtship, clearly like and appreciate each other. Ultimately, the tale succeeds as the kind of love story in which the most surprised people are the protagonists—which, arguably, could be said of the original as well—but Shakespeare’s powerful emotions are absent here. It is not the shrew who is tamed, but the tale itself.

July 25, 2016
In the latest of Hogarth’s Shakespeare series, Pulitzer-winner Tyler transposes the famously shrewish Kate and her would-be master Petruchio to Tyler country: Baltimore’s genteel Roland Park neighborhood. This modern retelling has no big plot surprises, but actress Potter’s narration sparks new life into the taming of feisty Kate. Potter voices a cool but none-too-confident character who baffles her screwy scientist father and silly teenaged sister with sharp sarcasm and ironic humor. Against her inclinations, Kate begins to develop a liking for her father’s lab assistant, Pyotr. Potter makes smooth work of Kate’s transition from man-hater to wife and mother by slowing and softening her speech and diluting Kate’s vinegar voice with sweeter sounds. A Hogarth hardcover.