Meet the Cast of Shrew: Evan Isaac Lipkin as Bianca
Please introduce yourself! Where do you hail from? Who are you playing in Shrew?
Hello, all! My name is Evan Isaac Lipkin, and I have the great honor of playing Bianca Minola in the Porters’ gender-swapped production of Taming of the Shrew. I hail from Kalamazoo (Michigan) and Chicago and now call this weird LA land my home.
Give us a quick summary of the play from your character's point of view!
The main action of Taming starts with all of the eligible bachelors in Padua (or more accurately, an old fart and a buffoon) pining over Bianca. Bianca's father, Baptista, uses her as a figurative honeypot to find a suitor for his eldest daughter Katherine - the namesake Shrew - not allowing Bianca to marry until the elder is wed. Suddenly suitors don disguises to win over Bianca, and of course hijinks ensue.
Tell us a bit about your history with Shakespeare.
Like so many kids in my generation, I was introduced to Shakespeare by the Baz Luhrmann “R + J” - which, quite frankly, made my developing brain explode a bit. It wasn't until high school where I had the great pleasure to fall in love with the twisty, vibrant, and deeply human texts (Hamlet, Macbeth, and Othello specifically). I fell in love with these complicated characters and the mesmerizing language - I mostly had no idea what was happening, but that only made me hungry for more. Since then I've performed in over 10 of the bards plays, and have lost track of how many times I've worked on Shakespeare in classes. It is a gift that keeps giving - every time I read a text or see one performed I hear something new and understand more deeply. Long may it continue!
This production of Shrew is gender-reversed. How do you feel about it?
I love it. As well constructed of a play as this is (really, it is) and as funny as this play is (really! It is!), Taming of the Shrew has got some...problems. Some big, bad "does this story have a place in our post #metoo world" problems. I mean, Petruchio starves Katherine, doesn't allow her to sleep for days, beats his servants and disrespects her in front of everyone she knows. Gremio and Tranio/Lucentio barter for Bianca like a very fine piece of real estate. Our more "traditional" love story (Bianca/Lucentio) never actually shows Bianca explicitly giving consent or love to her suitor. I think seeing this story - these relationships, these characters, these actions - with the gender reversed gives the audience a chance to process and digest. There's room to say "oh god, that's messed up" - with a belly laugh, not a growl of outrage. I hope the outrage comes after - the thought of "I've seen this behavior before," and a freedom to consider what that means to us now. Shakespeare has written a beautiful, balanced, bitingly satirical play...we just need some help seeing it now.
Just as importantly, reversing the gender allows some badass ladies to breath new life into these characters. I must be part cat, because I've died laughing at least 7 or 8 times in the past few months. Treat yo'self - watch these commanding women tear this stage asunder.
What's your favorite quote (or two) from the play?
Sit by my side, and let the world slip: we shall ne'er be younger.
My tongue will tell the anger of my heart, or else my heart concealing it will break.
Finally, where can people find out more about you and what you're up to
Follow me on all sorts of social media - all platforms as @evanisaaclipkin.
The Taming of the Shrew runs through May 19 in NoHo. Tickets HERE!