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Through Oct. 13 Cole Porter's 1948 musical comedy "Kiss Me, Kate" swept the Tonys that year. And now, more than half a century later, the revival of "Kate" has once again swept the 2000 Tonys, winning five awards, including Best Revival of a Musical. As for the updated version at the Shubert, it's a delicious and joyous concoction: a shameless, deft and brassy blend of chutzpah and sheer bravado. A classy, all-out show that that is elegant, witty, broad, brazen -- and utterly irresistible. With its original 1948 book by Sam and Bella Spewack (and a bit of tinkering to bring the book up-to-date), one of Cole Porter's finest scores, and under the current savvy direction of Michael Blakemore and the expert choreography of Kathleen Marshall, the revival of "Kiss Me, Kate" is a dream of a show, certainly one of the best of American musicals. All of it takes place in Baltimore where a musical version of Shakespeare's "The Taming of the Shrew" is being tried out before going to Broadway. Credit Robin Wagner for the muted colors of the scenic design and Martin Pakledinaz for the lush (and again muted) costumes. "Kate" begins in the magic of the theater where, on a darkened stage, one by one stagehands and actors begin to come in from the doors in the back. Soon a melody is heard; it turns out to be "Another Op'nin' Another Show" sung well by Hattie (Susan Beaubian and the company). The stage fills and the show starts. Only this is not just another run-of-the-mill opening of just "another show." "Kate" is a clever and witty blend of Shakespeare, slapstick and screwball comedy: all of it wrapped around large chunks of the sexist "The Taming of the Shrew" and the backstage wrangling of spoiled diva Lilli Vanessi as Kate (the wonderful Rachel York) and her former husband Fred Graham as Petruchio (the equally terrific Rex Smith) who bicker and battle (both onstage and off) -- and still can't help being set off by each other. When they sing and reminisce in "Wunderbar" we get a bit of the picture; but when Lilli in Act I sings the lovely/touching "So in Love" (and sung in the second act by Fred) we know that they are fated -- for good or bad -- for one another. Although Sam and Bella Spewak wrote "Kiss Me, Kate" in the heyday of the serious book show, they managed to cling to the old revue format. As such, Nancy Henderson (as sexy and aspiring Lois Lane/Bianca, Fred's current crush) is a show-stopper with "Why Can't You Behave?" and the cynical "Always True to You (in My Fashion)." As her erstwhile boyfriend, the athletic/talented Jim Newman (as Bill Calhoun/Lucentio) is first-rate as he sings/dances "Bianca." Add strong support from Chuck Wagner (as Lilli's fiance, Gen. Harrison Howell, a dead ringer for Gen. Douglas MacArthur); Stephen Reed and John D. Baker (as suitors of Bianca); dresser Paul (Randy Donaldson) who sings/dances "Too Darn Hot"; and Richard Poe and Michael Arkin as a couple of enjoyable and learned hoodlums (known only as First Man and Second Man) who do a delightful vaudeville hoofer as they tell us to "Brush Up Your Shakespeare." KISS ME, KATE Presented by Roger Berlind and Roger Horchow Music and Lyrics by:Cole Porter Book by:Sam and Bella Spewack Director:Michael Blakemore Choreographer:Kathleen Marshall Scenic designer:Robin Wagner Costume designer:Martin Pakledinaz Lighting designer:Peter Kaczorowski Sound designer:Tony Meola Musical director:Paul Gemignani Cast: Hattie:Susan Beaubian Paul:Randy Donaldson Lois Lane/Bianca:Nancy Anderson Bill Calhoun/Lucentio:Jim Newman Lilli Vanessi/Kate:Rachel York Fred Graham/Petruchio:Rex Smith Harry Trevor/Baptista:Herman Petras Hortensio:John D. Baker First Man:Richard Poe Second Man:Michael Arkin Harrison Howell:Chuck Wagner |
