Kiss Me Kate

Kiss Me Kate has always been one of my favourites, a show within a show. The idea for the musical was inspired by the on-stage/off-stage battling of husband-and-wife actors Alfre Lunt and Lynn Fontanne during their 1935 production of 'Shrew', witnessed by future Broadway producer Arnold Saint-Subber. In 1947 he asked the Spewacks (undergoing their own marital woes at the time) to write the script; Bella Spewack in turn enlisted Cole Porter to write the music and lyrics

This Wimborne production was certainly very enjoyable and very entertaining. The company need to be congratulated for soldiering on after having a few problems during the rehearsal period. With six weeks to opening night, they had to find a replacement leading man and they also had a change of director, but this was not evident in the finished product.

'Kiss Me Kate' is a show which really needs lots of men, and unfortunately this was where there was a weak link in this production. Every male member of the cast had a named role, therefore some of chorus numbers sounded a bit one sided by the ladies overpowering the men. 

 Mark Ward the late replacement in the role of Fred/Petruchio, certainly carried the show,with his powerful baritone voice and excellent delivery, in a wonderful portrayal of the split role. He was well supported by Julie Gower as Lilli /Kate, she was very good, although in my opinion she was a little too gentle in the role of fiery Kate. The audience certainly seemed to enjoy the fight scenes between Petruchio and Kate.

The two gangsters certainly milked their roles to produce lots of laughs and as the norm with 'Kiss Me Kate' They stole the show with 'Brush up your Shakespeare'.

A most enjoyable evening.

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