Productions - Kiss Me Kate
KISS Me Kate is a musical that meets with mixed reaction. Some people rate it as Cole Porter's best; others find it too wordy-what with all the Shakespeare.
What's indisputable is that it harbours a score of good numbers.
Another Op'nin, Another show; I Hate Men; Too Darn Hot; Brush Up Your Shakespeare – all of which have taken a life of their own.
A play within a play (it's based on a travelling theatre company’s production of Taming of the shrew); it's a tough nut to crack with a lot of scene changes and complicated dialogue.
Hereford Amateur Operatic Society’s opening night at the Courtyard was a brave attempt that will no doubt improve with the run.
It's a slow start, with the company on stage through the overture (often awkward, even for professionals), which unravelled into a long first half. I wanted to crank the whole thing up a notch.
Ian Burrell is strong in the male lead although I'd like to have seen more passion between him and Liz Wydra playing Lilli Vanessi/Katharine.
Much rides on the fireworks between these two and without them, the show lacked voltage. That said, it's the lead for Liz and her voice is a godsend, so she should gain confidence.
Highlights come in the nice pairing of Bob Milner and Jon Stacey as the gangsters; Patrick Taylor's Harry / Baptista and Richard Smith's Bill / Lucentio.
