Quote of the Day: A beauty pageant. Political ambition. A wild plan to reinvent America. Inspired by Shakespeare’s Shrew, this hilarious, all-female comedy follows contestant Katherine as she chases both the crown and a political revolution – with help from a rising Senate aide, a passionate liberal blogger and one very questionable historical hallucination. Fast-paced, clever and delightfully chaotic, this is American politics like you’ve never seen it before. Synopsis of the play, The Taming by Lauren Gunderson. 

Nora Targonski-O’Brien, Jane Froiland, and Grace Litzau in The Taming at Yellow Tree Theatre in Osseo, MN, thru 11/1/26. Photo: Yellow Tree Theatre

Lauren Gunderson is one of my favorite playwrights. She writes clever, thoughtful, funny scripts with characters that take action. Her plays are usually women-centered and have some social connection. The Taming fits all those points. We’re introduced to the characters in a dramatic way. The stage goes dark, then the lights pop on with a spotlight on our first candidate, I mean character, Katherine, played energetically by Grace Litzau. She is dressed in “Star-Spangled” brilliance. She’s competing in a Miss America pageant and has an interest in politics. After Katharine’s speech, the stage goes dark again, and when the lights come back up, another character appears. Patricia, played with intelligent humor by Jane Froiland, is an aide to a conservative right-wing Republican senator, who is running for re-election. The third blackout and spotlight brings on stage Bianca, played with awesome quirkiness by Nora Targonski-O’Brien. 

Nora Targonski-O’Brien, Jane Froiland, and Grace Litzau in The Taming at Yellow Tree Theatre in Osseo, MN, thru 11/1/26. Photo: Yellow Tree Theatre

We’re not entirely sure how they all ended up in the same hotel room, but we quickly learn that Katherine has ulterior motives. She just wants people to get along. Let’s try airing our differences and seeing things from another person’s point of view. That’s not working, okay, let me manipulate this situation a little more. The dialogue is witty, with many jabs and barbs. All the characters get moments to shine and give their speeches (monologues), and in the end, they all have a chance to use their voices and be heard. 

Nora Targonski-O’Brien, Jane Froiland, and Grace Litzau in The Taming at Yellow Tree Theatre in Osseo, MN, thru 11/1/26. Photo: Yellow Tree Theatre

The play is presented as a long one-act, 90 minutes, no intermission, but it clearly has three acts. In act one, we meet the characters and learn about who they are and what they’re doing. We hear about their differences and animosity. We also witness them starting to look at each other and try to figure each other out. Act two is presented as a sort of hallucination where the three women go back in time and become three of the founding fathers: James Madison, Charles Pinkney, and George Washington. Other leaders like Alexander Hamilton, Martha Washington, and Dolley Madison are mentioned in this scene. This act made me ponder: Are they going back in time to get inside the heads of those men who made those decisions hundreds of years ago, and are they hoping to make changes, then and/or now? Act three brings us back to the present, in that hotel room, where more about the characters and their motivation is revealed. 

Nora Targonski-O’Brien, Jane Froiland, and Grace Litzau in The Taming at Yellow Tree Theatre in Osseo, MN, thru 11/1/26. Photo: Yellow Tree Theatre

I think that Lauren Gunderson is known for her humor, sharp writing, and colorful characters. All of those things are present in this play. Austene Van uses her well-honed skills as a director to bring out the physical humor and give each character a chance to shine. The costumes are colorful and interesting (costume design by Samantha Fromm Haddow), and the lighting (Alex Clark) really gives us sharp focus, especially at the beginning. Sound design by Jeff Bailey. Set design, a simple hotel room that easily changes into an office in the past, designed by Sarah Brandner. Grace Happe is the Stage Manager.

The Taming is a play that needs an audience. Many of the scenes, especially the ones with physical humor, need the momentum and energy of an audience to keep up the humor. So, get out to Osseo and support this amazing little theatre. You can see The Taming at the Yellow Tree Theatre through Nov. 1, 2026. 

Go. Create. Inspire!

Journaling Prompt: If you could go back in time, where would you go? Who would you be? Would you try to change anything? When, where and why?