To me, Shakespeare's comedies are only mildly funny (if at all) today, but the tragedies are still extremely powerful. I don't know if Shakespeare was just better at tragedy, or if it's because comedy ages worse over 400 years.
Well, there is a lot of the dirty humor and snarky contemporary commentary which doesn't translate well. But the humor can come through with a little tweaking of of acting and setting.
Many years ago now I saw a Stratford production of The Taming of the Shrew. Bianca was played as a blonde bimbo, complete with Marilyn Monroe white dress and hairstyle, and the funniest scene had her tied to a chair while Kate started pulling the legs off her favourite teddy bear, each limb removal accompanied by a dismayed shriek from Bianca.
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Many years ago now I saw a Stratford production of The Taming of the Shrew. Bianca was played as a blonde bimbo, complete with Marilyn Monroe white dress and hairstyle, and the funniest scene had her tied to a chair while Kate started pulling the legs off her favourite teddy bear, each limb removal accompanied by a dismayed shriek from Bianca.