The quickest way to step out of your everyday world this summer? Get tickets, bring your lawn chair, blanket and jacket and get thee to “The Taming of the Shrew” at the Rexville Blackrock Amphitheatre. It opened Friday, half of Shakespeare Northwest’s season’s theme of “Fathers and Daughters,’ in repertoire with “The Tempest.”

No father, here Baptista (a mild, patient Devin Knowles), ever had a daughter like Katherine (Haylie Conchelos, properly strong and stubborn), though every parent wants a daughter like Bianca (demure, mild Ashleigh Nelson).

In 16th century Padua, no younger daughter is w...