SHE brawls and curses, chain smokes, drinks and bares her bum.

But that is not the last outrage of this Kate after being paraded through the streets as a scold.

Petruchio, the tall and muscular David Caves, has announced his intention to carry her off in marriage.

After a short pause Kate, played by the immaculate-looking Lisa Dillon, pees on stage. That'll be a 'No' then.

It is a slightly sour note in what is otherwise as charming a production as one could wish of this uneasy comedy, set by director Lucy Bailey in small-minded, small town 1940s Italy.

This Petruchio is not quite the brute sometimes presented, and this Kate enjoys his feigned flatteries for all her rages against them.

There's a hint too that her younger, favoured sister Bianca, played by Elizabeth Cadwallader, would give almost as good as she gets if the situation were reversed.

A fine cast also includes David Rintoul as a splendidly raffish suitor Gremio, and Simon Gregor as Petruchio's servant whose grin and wide-legged swagger reminded me of an agitated puppet on a stick.

The action takes place to the frequent accompaniment of brassy street music, and over a huge bed in which the corpulent Nick Holder as the drunken Christopher Sly reposes during much of the action.

At one point the unfortunate actor loses his drawers and has to protect his privacy with a hastily snatched pan.

Now where, another might have thought, is a pan when you need one?

The play continues until February 18. Tickets are available on 0844 800 1110 or visit www.rsc.org.uk

Colin Davison