In this retelling of Shakespeare's play, Katherine (Shirley Henderson) is an abrasive and loathsome Parliament member in line to become the PM. But she won't get there unless she softens her public image. Friends and family gently suggest marriage, which she scoffs at. Then she gets stuck in an elevator with Petruchio (Rufus Sewell), a bankrupt and feckless earl who just happens to be in need of a rich wife. To everyone's surprise they actually fall in love.
The real gem of this adaptation is in the full-on, guns blazing performances of the lead actors. Shirley Henderson and Rufus Sewell are actually playing up types they've played before. Henderson is known for playing quirky, outsider leading lady types, while Sewell has been somewhat typecast in noblemen roles. Here they have taken those familiar caricatures and raised the lunacy level up about ten notches. What's surprising is just how well it works.
Henderson is great, as expected. Her physical diminutiveness is a nice contrast to her Katherine's venomous tongue and quicksilver temper. But it is Sewell who impresses most. Here Henderson's portrayal is over-the-top, full of hisses and snarls. It could be quite challenging to create chemistry with and a lesser actor may have been steamrolled by the ferocity. But here the writer makes Sewell's Petruchio delightfully unhinged. Played charmingly by Sewell, he may even be more socially challenged than Katherine. Together he and Henderson have a demented chemistry that works. Just watch the elevator scene where they first meet.
The supporting cast is of course excellent. With special mentions to Twiggy (the former model) and Jaime Murray, playing Katherine's mother and sister respectively, for bringing life and humor to what may have otherwise been bland characters.
The real gem of this adaptation is in the full-on, guns blazing performances of the lead actors. Shirley Henderson and Rufus Sewell are actually playing up types they've played before. Henderson is known for playing quirky, outsider leading lady types, while Sewell has been somewhat typecast in noblemen roles. Here they have taken those familiar caricatures and raised the lunacy level up about ten notches. What's surprising is just how well it works.
Henderson is great, as expected. Her physical diminutiveness is a nice contrast to her Katherine's venomous tongue and quicksilver temper. But it is Sewell who impresses most. Here Henderson's portrayal is over-the-top, full of hisses and snarls. It could be quite challenging to create chemistry with and a lesser actor may have been steamrolled by the ferocity. But here the writer makes Sewell's Petruchio delightfully unhinged. Played charmingly by Sewell, he may even be more socially challenged than Katherine. Together he and Henderson have a demented chemistry that works. Just watch the elevator scene where they first meet.
The supporting cast is of course excellent. With special mentions to Twiggy (the former model) and Jaime Murray, playing Katherine's mother and sister respectively, for bringing life and humor to what may have otherwise been bland characters.