Kiss Me Kate

‘Kiss Me Kate’ is a musical loosely based on Shakespeare’s ‘The Taming of The Shew’, featuring an effervescent toe-tapping score by Cole Porter and a book by Samuel and Bella Spewack.  This production has been directed by Adam Bishop.

Our story starts with a backstage pass to rehearsals at the fictional Ford’s Theatre in Baltimore for a new musical version of the ‘Taming of the Shrew ‘and we hear the orchestra tuning up while the choreographer puts the ensemble through practicing a dance number.  The opening number is the vibrant ‘Another Openin’ and the cast really show us the trials and tribulations of putting on a show with minimum rehearsal time.  The bumped into each other with tempers running high as nothing seems to be going to plan.  I loved the fizzing energy of the opening number, and the ensemble told the story which a lot of us theatricals will identify with. 

Enter the kindly Hattie (Elaine Bishop) who gently reminds the cast that they have been through it all before and everything will be fine and raises their morale once again.  At this point, we also see Lilli Vanessi (Daniella Bridge) the haughty movie star, wearing signature dark glasses, accompanied by the refrains of a song ‘So In Love’ that will become her anthem.  

Coming down the stairs we see Fred Graham (Steve Sale) the egotistical producer of the show and we quickly realise, he is Lilli’s ex-husband following a bitter divorce. 

Fred has obvious feelings for another member of the cast, the flirtatious, vivacious Lois Lane (Laura Todd), who is to play the role of Bianca despite being inexperienced.  I loved Lois covering for her hoofer boyfriend saying he was at the ‘cheerio o podist.’ showing her desperation to impress Fred while covering for Bill.  She meets her boyfriend Bill Calhoun (Daniel Ferguson) at the stage door and berates him about his fickle attitude and love of gambling.  We also discover that Bill has signed Fred Graham’s name to an IOU for his gambling debt. 

Lilli and Fred have adjoining dressing rooms, and once the two get together the tensions start to build, and age-old hurts start to bubble painfully to the surface which Lilli covers using searing sarcasm. Lilli has obviously been betrayed by Fred in the past through his numerous affairs but, despite this, she still has strong feelings for him.  I loved the playful banter between the two characters reminiscing about their humble beginnings in theatre as they danced joyfully around the dressing room to ‘Wunderba’.

Fred receives an impromptu visit from two gentlemen wearing pinstripes suits and homberg hats.  These are the heavies (John Palmer and Kieran Owen), who are employed by the runner of a card game to recover gambling losses.  These characters were pitch perfect as the gangsters flexing their fists menacingly and issuing subtle threats of violence. 

Lilli receives an arrangement of flowers representing her wedding bouquet which stirs long buried memories, and she takes them as proof that Fred still has feelings for her.  She keeps the card close to her heart to read later promising she will never lose her temper and call him names again.  Fred however has intended the flowers to be delivered to Lois.  So, the show within a show begins with Lilli oblivious to Fred’s duplicity and Fred fervently hoping she never finds out. 

Obviously, Lilli does discover the truth, resulting in a hilarious off script show down with Lilli showing her anger by humiliating and kicking Fred, who is trying, along with the rest of the cast to desperately stay in character.  A furious Fred threatens to ‘spank’ her live on stage, prompting the embarrassed cast, including her ‘father’ Baptista (Paul Connor), to shield the action with their costumes.  

Fred uses the hapless gangsters to coerce Lilli into completing the show resulting in some hilarious scenes as they bumble around the stage dressed in partial costume with their sock suspenders on display while preventing the helpless Lilli from leaving the stage.

But Lilli is engaged to General Harrison Howell (David Wright) and is preparing to leave her theatrical career behind and become a senator’s wife – but can Fred convince her to stay or will she leave his life forever? 

Other characters featured are Hattie (Elaine Bishop) Lilli's dresser who has seen first-hand her treatment by her former husband.  Elaine led the opening number showing once again her powerful vocals.  Paul (Ben Atkinson) is Fred’s dresser who leads the ensemble in a sleazy dance number ‘Too Darn Hot’ and the Stage Manager (Amanda Taylor) is trying desperately to keep the show running despite all the problems and Fred’s annoyance.   General Howell played by David Wright was another well-observed character capturing the arrogance of the military who had a secret of his own.  I loved his witty duet with Lilli. 

Lois and Bill Calhoun had some good duets showing their tempestuous relationship each frustrated by the others behaviour.  I loved Lois’ reprise of ‘Why Can’t You Behave’ showing good vocals demonstrating that despite appearances, she had her own version of fidelity and was true to Bill.  This was mirrored on stage as Bianca by her singing ‘Tom Dick and Harry’ with her would be suitors.  I liked Bill’s song ‘Bianca’ where he realises that he loves his Lois however she behaves in their relationship. 

Steve Sale and Daniella Bridge were excellent as the sparring ex-spouses bringing their personal lives dramatically and hilariously into full view of the audience.  I loved Daniella’s version of Lilli creating a well-rounded character.  She could certainly give Fred a run for his money pricking through his pomposity with every well-chosen put down. She switched effortlessly from Kate, the screaming harpie, to the gentler, vulnerable aspects of her character as Lilli.  She also showed she had a wicked sense of humour with her on stage spats with Fred determined to get the upper hand and the final wink at a gobsmacked Bianca as she humbly acquiesced to Petruchio.    Daniella has a beautiful voice and her rendition of ‘So in Love ‘was full of tenderness and heart-felt yearning.   In contrast, ‘I Hate Men’ was a feisty and witty showstopper as she interacted with the members of the male ensemble to tell the story. 

Steve was perfect as the over-blown, egotistical Fred Graham.  He was wonderful strutting around the stage as Petruchio while leaning casually on the proscenium arch.   He embodied the character of the arrogant, gold-digger Petruchio haughtily dismissing women while bemoaning his past conquests in “Where is the Life?’ while talking ruefully directly to the audience.  I loved his quick-witted adlib during his costume malfunction! This is a man who needs to learn some humility and Steve gave us this in his tender reprise of ‘So In Love’ where he finally realises where his heart truly lies.  

Special mention to the wonderful witty gangsters.  John Palmer and Kieran Owen created believable characters just the right side of a stereotype.  There frequent appearances were a definite highlight especially as they self-consciously brazened out their theatrical debuts on stage while keeping in character as hardened gangsters.  Obviously, ‘Brush Up Your Shakespeare’ brought the house down with their sardonic observations of how to impress women using the words of the Bard, channelling their inner thespian and growing in confidence with each reprise. 

The stage was used very well with the space being utilised to create dressing rooms, stage door area complete with phone, and the terracotta trellis covered houses of Padua and scene stages were efficient and well executed.   This was achieved by folding sets that could be quickly collapsed and removed.  I was very impressed with the use of a ‘mirror ‘between Lilli and Fred’s dressing rooms, which created an imaginary barrier for the characters to interact with.   The props created the feel of a theatre supported using themed projections (created by Ben Atkinson) to represent scene changes. 

Costumes were excellent with lots of 1940s details such as braces for the men and in ‘Too Darn Hot’ some of the ladies wore silky French knickers and camisoles to show the heat backstage.  Obviously, a show within a show was an additional task and costumier Paula Yeoman-Hill rose to this challenge creating an incredible 90 costumes including a medieval wardrobe reflecting the status of each cast member.  The would-be lovers Kate and Petruchio wore black and red outfits while Lois and Lucentio wore blue including some blue pantaloons for Lucentio.  There was also a military costume for General Howell and a lovely jade green outfit for Hattie featuring delicate embroidery.  Make-up and wigs were in keeping with both the 1940s theme with lots of red lipstick for the ladies and the Italian renaissance theme of the show within the show.  There was even a pantomime donkey.

Choreography designed and performed by Heidi Clayton, was pacy using the space available and told the story switching from 1940s rehearsals in the full ensemble number ‘Another Openin’ to ‘Tom Dick and Harry’featuring Lois and her suitors.  I was impressed with ‘Too Darn Hot’ using a strumming double bass to create the sleazy feel of the dance number which featured a toe-tapping tap dance routine and the upbeat ‘Cantiamo D’Amore’ featuring the ensemble led by the suitors.  

The music led by Musical Director, Samantha Kerby-Hall was wonderful featuring a live eight-piece band.  The tuning up at the beginning made the orchestra feel part of the ‘show’ and the complex score switched from different genres such as a Viennese waltz for ‘Wunderba’ to the jazzy ‘Tom Dick and Harry.’

Thank you to Archie and Elaine for another warm welcome and for providing me with programmes and posters that I am happy to say fulfil the criteria for next year’s competition. 

Well done to director Adam Bishop and your team of talented creatives, for creating this version of a classic musical comedy - a pacy witty show that has once again raised the bar.  It was an absolute pleasure to meet you all after the show and I look forward to seeing your production of ‘Into the Woods’ In April. 

 

 

 

  

 

 

 

 

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