The February People’s Choice Award goes to…

The people have spoken… The February People’s Choice Award goes to Toby Inoue for her short play, The Shrew Strikes Back, presented as a staged reading live at Theater Wit and Simulcast on February 3rd. Congratulations, Toby!

Courtesy of Toby, we’re pleased to share the first few pages from the award-winning script. Enjoy!

The Shrew Strikes Back
by Toby Inoue

Characters:
* PETRUCHIO: (M) Kate’s husband, the picture of toxic masculinity
* KATHERINA: (F) Trad wife, submissive, but is she, really?
* HORTENSIO: (M) Judge, former rival of Petruchio in courtship to Kate’s sister Bianca

PETRUCHIO
(Urgent) Kate, don’t let me down. I need your support now more than ever.

KATE
You can always count on me, Petruchio. I’m just not sure what you want me to do.

PETRUCHIO
Blast it, Kate, help me! I could be executed over this, and then what would happen to
you?

KATE
Oh, Pet, I’ll do whatever you need. If you could just fill me in a little bit on what’s going
on–.

PETRUCHIO
You’d be a helpless widow!

JUDGE HORTENSIO ENTERS, calling out:

HORTENSIO
The court will come to order. All rise for the Honorable Judge Hortensio!

PETRUCHIO
You, Hortensio, are the judge in this matter?

HORTENSIO
Isn’t that what I just said?

PETRUCHIO
What good fortune! (To KATE) I won’t be needing you, then. Go home.

KATE
Yes, husband.

KATE EXITS.

PETRUCHIO
Hortensio, buddy, this has all been a misunderstanding.

HORTENSIO
(Stern) You will address me as “Your Honor.”

PETRUCHIO
Uh oh. (Calling) Kate, come back!

KATE ENTERS.

KATE
Your Honor, if this is about my brother-in-law Lucentio’s death, my husband Petruchio
had nothing to do with it.

PETRUCHIO
Silence, Kate! I’ll do the talking. I am representing myself.

KATE, obedient, slaps a hand over her mouth.

HORTENSIO
Call your witness.

PETRUCHIO
I call my wife, Kate.

HORTENSIO
Hello there, Kate, do you swear to tell the truth, the whole truth, and nothing but the truth, so help you God?

KATE stares at HORTENSIO with her hand still over her mouth.

PETRUCHIO
Speak, woman!

KATE
Yes, yes, I swear.

HORTENSIO
Now, Kate, you don’t have to testify. You can claim spousal privilege.

PETRUCHIO
I need her testimony.

KATE
Then I will testify.

Join us for our next Monday Night PlayGround, live and in-person, on Monday, March 3 at 7pm CT at Theater Wit and simulcast! Click here for more info and tickets.