MCS’ ‘Taming the Shrew’ rocks GIG

By CASSIE DLG FEJERAN
Reporter

Mt. Carmel’s advanced English placement class took over the GIG Discotheque Saturday night in a unique staging of the Shakespearean classic, The Taming of the Shrew.

Set to punk rock music, the updated version of the play included a musical production played by the Four Long Johns consisting of four Mt. Carmel students: Andrew Moses, John R. Del Rosario, John Igitol, and Steven M. Johnson.

Taming the Shrew showcased the acting chops of 26 MCS students comprising the school’s Advanced Placement English Class, giving life to a classic love story that hewed closely to Shakespeare’s original story.

In this retelling of the classic tale, several boys at a fictional Padua High School pine for Bianca, a local beauty whose father will not allow her to date unless her sister, Kate, also dates. Unfortunately for Bianca’s suitors, Kate, an anti-social guitarist in a punk rock band, is opposed to dating, men, and romance. The story unfolds when Bianca’s suitors plot a scheme to get Kate to date. The story ends with Kate finally falling for the charms of one of the guys, but that did not take away the anticipation, with the audience—composed mostly of parents, relatives, classmates, teachers, and MCS staff—avidly rooting for the happy ending.

The production’s emphasis on music prompted the cast and crew to perform at GIG Discotheque, which has recently built a new band stage. This was the club’s 17th production since its inception eight years ago.

Taming the Shrew was directed by Theatre Club veterans Karen Cabrera and Josh Gibson.

“I worked closely with the casting crew to deliver tonight what was once only a vision of a play that rocks,” said Cabrera.

Gibson, on the other hand, had directed three times for the Mt. Carmel theater club. Also available to assist with the show was producer Galvin Deleon Guerrero.

The show starred other club veterans Sweeda Glad as Kate, Deniece Santos as Bianca, and Sherman Santos as Luke, as well as club newcomer, Andrew Moses, as Peter.

Ian Moses was present to watch his cousin Andrew perform “I think they did a great job. It was an excellent performance by the band and the casting crew.”

Taming the Shrew was sponsored in part by Power 99, Commonwealth Council for Arts and Culture, KMCV, Saipan Tribune, GIG, Elite Printing, Island Apparel, and Edward T. Salas.