Shakespearean Diversion

Instead of working - though in my defense, I didn't have much to work on since I just got the first draft of my paper back this evening - I slummed around all day and watched the BBC adaptation of The Taming of the Shrew. It's my favorite Shakespearean play and I'm always up for seeing it, whether it's watered down horribly as a teen romantic comedy (Ten Things I Hate About You) or brilliantly set to catchy show tunes (Kiss Me, Kate). This adaptation was somewhere in between. I found Kate reminded me too much of a little firecracker and not enough like a shrew, though her performance was decent enough. Oh God, but Rufus Sewell as Petruchio? Fantastic! He really captured the spirit of the character, and it's a hard one to nail, I'd think. Petruchio's not a jerk, he's not a chauvinist - he's just used to getting his own way and he knows what he wants, but he's not a pig about it. That's hot. He gives as good as he gets and he realizes that all relationships are two-way streets. If you demand something, you should be able to deliver it yourself. I like men who know that. If only I had more of that kinda man in my own life. Oh well, back to work. It was a nice little diversion.

Final thought: Shakespeare is still the man.