Part I

In the spacious house of the wealthy Baptista, the servants are mocking the masters in their absence: they mimic Baptista, the father, who is struggling to marry his elder daughter — Katharina, a fury — and denying the suitors of the younger one — Bianca, a goody two-shoes — who are required to wait. Baptista returns unexpectedly, putting an abrupt end to the servants’ comedy.

We meet his two daughters. The younger one, Bianca, who is the object of everyone’s attention, is as gracious as her sister Katharina is difficult and ill-tempered: nothing and no one seems to find grace in her eyes, except perhaps her father. She is the Shrew.