Retired Aspiritech Board Member in the Limelight This April

Ron Brix is a longtime Aspiritech supporter and retired Board Member. When he joined us in the early days of our nonprofit, he had the distinction of being the first autistic Board Member. He provided invaluable insights and guidance on our organization’s operations.

Now, he is stepping into the limelight in the Grove Players’ production of Shakespeare’s The Taming of the Shrew. Cast in the role of one of the play’s servants, Ron may not have the most dialogue, but his part represents a vital piece of the creative work’s larger social commentary.

This classic work by the Bard of Avon delves deep into societal roles, family dynamics, and the struggle for personal agency against a cultural landscape of inequality among classes and genders. “It depicts a rough time in history, where women are treated as property and servants abused. Marriages are arranged,” Ron explains about the play.  

Set in Renaissance-era Padua, Italy, the plot of The Taming of the Shrew revolves around the tumultuous relationship between sisters Katherina and Bianca Minola and their father’s insistence that Katherina marry before her younger sibling. Katherina’s reputation of being headstrong and assertive (therefore, a “shrew”), however, makes her undesirable to suitors of the day. When male protagonist Petruchio decides to win Katherina’s hand and attempts to force her to conform to common expectations of docility and subservience, the power dynamics between men and women within a patriarchal society are put on full display. Bianca’s interactions with suitors of her own expand the commentary on gender relations.

The plight of servants is also highlighted within the play, unfolding the mistreatment and exploitation lower classes often faced within a rigidly enforced hierarchical society, in which money and status dictated every aspect of life, leaving little room for compassion or empathy.

All told, The Taming of the Shrew serves as a poignant reminder of the struggles faced by women and marginalized communities throughout history. It confronts uncomfortable truths about the objectification of people as property and the systemic abuse of power. Although written in the early 1590s, its messages of gender roles, autonomy, and the enduring quest for equality can still be found in modern creative works. “There is a Broadway musical, Kiss Me Kate, that is directly based on Taming of the Shrew, and I dare say that My Fair Lady picks up on some of the topics involved,” Ron explains.

Although Ron states he does not want to oversell his role, we are already uproariously applauding the exceptional performance we know he’ll give. The production marks his first time onstage since 2017 when he appeared in July in Fiddler on the Roof and in December in a Readers Theatre holiday show.

The Grove Players’ production of The Taming of the Shrew runs April 5–7 and 12–14 at the Lincoln Center at 935 Maple Avenue, Downers Grove, Illinois. Friday and Saturday shows start at 8:00 PM, and Sunday matinees begin at 2:00 PM. For more information and to order tickets, please visit the Grove Players website.