The girls in today’s society go for classical poetry; so, to win their hearts, one must quote with ease, Aeschylus and Euripides-or, if you’re more of a modern-day thinker, Fred Graham and Lilli Vanessi.
The Repertory Theatre of St. Louis unveiled its newest production at 8 p.m. Wednesday, Nov. 28, when “Kiss Me Kate” took the stage on opening night.
The musical by Samuel and Bella Spewack with music and lyrics by Cole Porter has been one of the most successful musicals since its debut in 1948. Since its Broadway debut, the musical about performing a play has spawned movies, TV specials and numerous productions across the country. In addition, “Kiss Me Kate” has won many Tony Awards and starred famous theater actors such as Marin Mazzie and Brian Stokes Mitchell.
With all of the critical acclaim preceding the musical, the Rep has a lot to live up to between now and closing night on Dec. 28-something the company is more than able to do.
“Kiss Me Kate” is the story of divorced couple Fred Graham (Brian Southerland) and Lilli Vanessi (Diane Southerland)-the two are married in real life-starring together in a production of Shakespeare’s “The Taming of the Shrew.”
On opening night, Lilli receives flowers from Fred that were intended for Lois Lane (Jessica Leigh Brown), a young, ambitious and fairly loose actress in the show. Finding out midway through the opening night of “Shrew” that the flowers were intended for another woman, Lilli vows to quit theatre midway thorough the performance, with only a couple of gangsters and a gambling debt in her way.
The most impressive part of “Kiss Me Kate” is the extensive, detailed scenery. With the rotating stage used to its full potential, the play includes a different set for almost every scene. Changes in setting are not implied, but rather seen, as the stage rotates from the comforts of Graham’s dressing room, to the mainstage of “Shrew” during the performance, to the backstage, overheated “Shrew” cast complaining about being too hot to please their significant others.
The ever-changing backdrop is not the only entertaining element of “Kiss Me Kate,” however; the actors are terrific as well.
The Southerlands are wonderful as the sparring couple who are actually hopelessly in love with one another. The chemistry the two share is apparent throughout the entire production, though their off-stage romance likely aids that factor. Brown is also exceptional in her role as the sultry seductress with her heart set on the gambler Bill Calhoun (David Larson). She sashays her way across the stage with far more confidence and poise than most people would have while wearing next to nothing in front of hundreds of people.
The real stars that emerge from “Kiss Me Kate,” however, are Steve Isom and Joneal Joplin as Man 1 and Man 2-or, to the audience, as the gangsters with an unbridled passion for theatre.
The comedic timing of Isom and Joplin is outstanding.
The tough buffoons play to the crowd, doing everything from wearing Shakespearean costumes of tights and bright colors; to singing about brushing up on one’s Shakespeare, while suavely dancing with canes and top hats; to shooting loud, distracting birds out of the sky.
Clearly the audience favorites, the two steal every scene they’re in, be it with their not-so-sage advice, their attempts at dancing along with the chorus or their tap-dancing production of “Brush Up Your Shakespeare.”
Standouts aside, the entire cast clearly has fun performing the musical.
With over-the-top dance numbers, colorful backdrops, bright spandex costumes and sexual innuendoes aplenty, the Rep’s production of “Kiss Me Kate” is one not to miss-or else you may have to answer to a couple of tap-dancing gangsters in spandex. And really, who wants that?
