The Taming of the Shrew, Polesden Lacey Shakespeare, Polesden Lacey Outdoor Theatre, Great Bookham. Reviewed by Tony Flook

Some modern-day critics have derided The Taming of the Shrew, with its undeniably misogynistic flavour, as an offensive play that should no longer be performed.

This po-faced, politically correct attitude was not shared by the appreciative audience at Saturday's performance by Polesden Lacey Shakespeare. Indeed, it was enjoyed as it should be – a light-hearted, tongue-in cheek romp that should not be taken seriously.

Director Elizabeth Callow and her team achieved an ideal rhythm, alternating relatively quiet passages with scenes played fast enough to paper over the more farcical episodes.

Don Brown dominated as the swaggering, self-assured fortune seeker Petruchio, on a mission to subdue and marry the virago Katharine, played with vigour by Sarah Jones, for her dowry.

Sparks flew at their first encounter but Petruchio slowly gained control and the delivery of Katharine's final speech left no doubt about her subordination to her (by then) husband. These two characters were ideally balanced in the way they were portrayed and brought to life by two talented actors.

Ollie Reeves came close to stealing his scenes as Petruchio's much abused but resilient servant, Grumio. His body language, together with his vocal expressions, showed total understanding of a man pushed about by his master but who never lost his, albeit sometimes begrudging, sense of humour.

Edd Mott, Tranio, injected a neat touch of estuary English, Elizabethan-style, when he posed as his master, Lucentio, in a devious (and rather obscure) plot to help him win the hand of Bianca, Katharine's more passive younger sister.

Felicity Westmacott showed that Bianca was, nonetheless, anxious for her older sibling to wed so that she, too, could marry. It was, however, she who finally demonstrated independence when she saw how subservient Katharine had become.

Sound, always an uncertain element in outdoor theatre, did not always carry fully when the actors stepped too far away from the foot mikes. The production made excellent use of the wide acting area and its numerous access points, enabling the action to flow without pause. Elizabeth Callow and Ruth Archer's thoughtful costume design helped set the play's time and place.

It was well worth arriving at Polesden Lacey early, to take in the pre-show entertainment, including Barry Ryder's falconry demonstration and a sword-fighting display staged – and explained – by Gary Andrews and Pete Russell.

The Taming of The Shrew continues tomorrow (Saturday) and Sunday. Gates open at 1.30pm with Elizabethan fun and games from 2pm and the show starts at 3pm. Tickets, adults £10, children £5, family £25, are available from the Dorking Halls box office on 01306 881717 or log on to www.polesdenlacey.co.uk or www.dorkinghalls.co.uk.