‘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.

‘KISS ME, KATE’: The cast. Photo: Joan Marcus

‘KISS ME, KATE’: The cast. Photo: Joan Marcus

‘KISS ME, KATE’: Will Chase. Photo: Joan Marcus

‘KISS ME, KATE’: (left to right) Preston Truman Boyd, Stephanie Styles, Corbin Bleu & Justin Prescott. Photo: Joan Marcus

‘KISS ME, KATE’: (left to right) Will Burton, Rick Faugno, Stephanie Styles & Corbin Bleu. Photo: Joan Marcus

‘KISS ME, KATE’: (left to right) John Pankow, Will Chase & Lance Coadie Williams. Photo: Joan Marcus

‘KISS ME, KATE’: Corbin Bleu, Sarah Meahl & Erica Mansfield. Photo: Joan Marcus

‘KISS ME, KATE’: Corbin Bleu & Stephanie Styles. Photo: Joan Marcus

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

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

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‘HOLIDAY INN’: The company. Photo: Joan Marcus

HOLIDAY INN
Music and lyrics by Irving Berlin
Book by Gordon Greenberg and Chad Hodge
Directed by Gordon Greenberg
Choreography by Denis Jones
Through January 1, 2017
Studio 54
254 West 54th Street
(212-719-1300), www.RoundaboutTheatre.org

By David NouNou

Unlike White Christmas, another Irving Berlin musical that was adapted from a movie to a musical stage comedy, Holiday Inn is not an authentic holiday show. However, Holiday Inn is really a musical for all seasons. I would not call it a Christmas show or even a holiday show; it has elements for all 12 months of the year. It has its delightful moments, such as the wonderful Bryce Pinkham as Jim Hardy who leaves show business to buy a farm in Connecticut. It is also a show that never completely takes off due to its stilted book and lackluster direction, both by Gordon Greenberg.

There is also a little bit of a discomfort level when songs by the same writer have been taken out of his songbook and inserted into a score to liven it up; songs such as “Heat Wave,” which was sung by Marilyn Monroe in There’s No Business Like Show Business; ”Cheek to Cheek,” a Fred Astaire-Ginger Rogers song from Top Hat; and “Blue Skies” from the Bing Crosby-Fred Astaire movie Blue Skies. They are great to hear but then they do seem like fillers if you know they weren’t written for the show.

Set in 1946 – 1947, Jim Hardy has left his trio of show partners Ted Hanover (Corbin Bleu) and Lila Dixon (Megan Sikora) to buy a farm with his hopeful fiancée, Lila Dixon, but she has aspirations to stay in show business and the trio becomes a duet. Ted and Lila go to their new gigs while Jim goes off to Connecticut to buy Mason Farm, owned by the father of the lovely Linda Mason (Lora Lee Gayer). Linda’s father recently passed away and she had to sell the farm. They build up a friendship and a romance blossoms. Also, they come up with the idea of passing Mason Farm off as Holiday Inn, a place that celebrates all the holidays of the year, assisted by all of Jim’s former dancing buddies.

Back comes Ted drunk, losing Lila to a millionaire and is smitten by Linda after one dance. He wants to take her to Hollywood to costar with him but Jim can’t see losing Linda and a second chance at love to Ted. Ultimately, Linda has to make her choice. The storyline is pretty faithful to the movie.

Besides the proven Irving Berlin score, the most enjoyable part of the show is Bryce Pinkham as Jim. With each successive role since A Gentleman’s Guide to Love and Murder, Mr. Pinkham is gaining more stage presence and command of the stage. It is pure pleasure watching him sing and dance. Corbin Bleu, best known for the TV show, “High School Musical,” is a most capable tap dancer. Lora Lee Gayer is an absolute delight and possesses a lovely singing voice.

Although the show never hits peaks, it does hit a middle of the road of enjoyable entertainment, with a wonderful songbook, some good performances and an eager cast that aims to please. Holiday Inn is fluff that you enjoy while watching but won’t retain for long after leaving the theater.

Edited by Scott Harrah
Published October 10, 2016
Reviewed at press performance on October 9, 2016

‘HOLIDAY INN’: Bryce Pinkham, Megan Lawrence & company. Photo: Joan Marcus

‘HOLIDAY INN’: Corbin Bleu, Lora Lee Gayer & Bryce Pinkham. Photo: Joan Marcus

‘HOLIDAY INN’: Lora Lee Gayer & company. Photo: Joan Marcus

‘HOLIDAY INN’: Bryce Pinkham & company. Photo: Joan Marcus

‘HOLIDAY INN’: Megan Sikora & Corbin Bleu. Photo: Joan Marcus

‘HOLIDAY INN’: The company. Photo: Joan Marcus

‘HOLIDAY INN’: Corbin Bleu, Lora Lee Gayer & company. Photo: Joan Marcus

‘HOLIDAY INN’: Megan Lawrence, Bryce Pinkham & company. Photo: Joan Marcus

‘HOLIDAY INN’: Corbin Bleu, Megan Sikora & company. Photo: Joan Marcus

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