'Kiss Me, Kate': Knockout reboot of classic

‘KISS ME, KATE’: Kelli O’Hara. Photo: Joan Marcus

KISS ME, KATE
Book by Sam & Bella Spewack
Music & lyrics by Cole Porter
Directed by Scott Ellis
Choreography by Warren Carlyle
Through June 30, 2019
Studio 54
254 West 54th Street
(212-719-1300), www.RoundaboutTheatre.org

By David NouNou

In last year’s revival of My Fair Lady at the Vivian Beaumont, the balance of power shifted from Henry Higgins to Eliza Doolittle. This year Roundabout Theatre Company has chosen to do the same sort of gender-power transference with Kiss Me, Kate, in which Lilli Vanessi/Katherine (Kelli O’Hara) trounces Fred Graham/Petruchio (Will Chase) at every turn and in every scene. Having Ms. O’Hara in the part opposite Will Chase, it becomes an absolute knockout.

Cole Porter wrote one of the most glorious scores of all time for a Broadway musical and the songs are as vibrant as ever. The book by the Spewacks hasn’t weathered as well. Act I sets the story in motion, and for all the wonderful songs in Act II, they do not advance the story line much further; they act more as fillers, which was the case in a lot of musicals at the time.

Set in a Baltimore theater, the show starts with the brilliant “Another Op’nin, Another Show,” which sets the tone and mood of what is about to unfold. Lilli Vanessi has returned to the theater one last time to make her farewell performance in Taming of the Shrew, written, produced and directed by her ex-husband Fred Graham. They were married, very much in love but are currently divorced. The complications begin when Fred has cast his latest flirtation, Lois Lane/Bianca (Christine Cornish Smith) and her one true love Bill Calhoun/Lucentio (Corbin Bleu) to also be in Taming of the Shrew. Trouble ensues when Lili finds about Fred’s extracurricular activity involving Lois.

Due to the shift in power, it isn’t so much as taming of the shrew as getting even with your ex-husband. Kelli O’Hara as the shrew, Katherine, is an absolute revelation. She was a sensation in South Pacific, The Pajama Game and her Tony Award-winning role of Anna in The King and I. Here she has elevated her rank to a prima donna diva. Her voice is stunning and her acting is sublime. Will Chase does a valiant Fred/Petruchio, but the deck is stacked against him. Corbin Bleu as the hoofer Bill Calhoun is sensational. However, the highlight of the night is the opening number in Act II “Too Darn Hot,” set on the rooftop of the theater during their intermission where the dancers come up to cool off but instead end up blowing the roof off the theater.

The other thing to remember is when you see a show being directed by Scott Ellis, you know you are in for a treat. He never disappoints and he always has new tricks up his sleeve. He is rhythmically complemented by the wonderful choreographer, Warren Carlyle, and each of his numbers are absolute eye-poppers.

Wunderbar!

Editor’s Note: Understudy Christine Cornish Smith played the role of Lois Lane/Bianca at the performance reviewed here, substituting for Stephanie Styles.

Edited by Scott Harrah
Published March 21, 2019
Reviewed at March 20, 2019 press performance.