Before pretty Bianca is allowed to marry, her prickly sister Katharina is first to walk down the aisle. The daredevil Petruchio takes on the recalcitrant and realizes that beneath the surface a sensitive but also strong woman is emerging. He, in turn, is able to shed his cocky mask with her. Thus, an initially stormy struggle ultimately turns into a harmonious partnership. John Cranko transformed Shakespeare's comedy into a lively ballet that focuses on the generally human: Only when the two come to trust each other can they reveal their true nature and meet as equals.