What was all that about?

I had booked myself a ticket to the Globe Theatre for Monday evening as a treat after my Buckingham Palace experience. The play was The Taming of the Shrew. I loved my first visit there with James last year to see the Merchant of Venice, and I was really looking forward to it. 

My seat was excellent, in the front row of the balcony, and the atmosphere was great. But I found myself perplexed and a bit disappointed with the play. I knew the plot, but I'm not sure if I have ever read it - if I have it was a very long time ago. It all started out very jolly and slapstick - the mainly Irish cast were enthusiastic. But I found the second half to be very downbeat. I didn't find the "taming" of Katherine to be believable and it seemed more sad than funny. Maybe this was partly because the actress playing Katherine was injured at the interval - I think she broke her ankle - and (after a delay) had to be carried about by Petrucchio during the second half! Perhaps that added too much pathos to the proceedings! Anyway, it was still a treat to be at the Globe and I made my way back to the hotel later very tired after an exciting day.