We can only imagine the response to the 1948 Broadway premiere of Kiss Me, Kate. Written by Sam and Bella Spewack (Book) and Cole Porter (Lyrics and Music) Kiss Me, Kate, was a saucy, jazzy riff on Shakespeare’s The Taming of the Shrew, and naturally, the battle of the sexes. Set backstage and onstage in a Baltimore production of Shrew, Kiss Me, Kate follows the tempestuous battle between Fred Graham (Director, Producer, Star of Shrew) and his ex and co-star, Lilli Vanessi. Kiss Me, Kate derides and celebrates the folly of male-female romance, the deception (Always True) the risky chemistry (Too Darn Hot) the rage (I Hate Men). Much of it’s tongue-in-cheek, though it must be noted that Porter and the Spewacks were audacious to depict “love” in its less halcyon aspect, and a lady who could throw a punch.
When Kiss Me, Kate opens, Fred and Lilli, though estranged, seem to be somewhere along the road to reconciliation, when a box of flowers, delivered to Lilli by mistake, infuriates her. Her anger leads to an onstage confrontation, and she is determined to walk out on the show. Lois Lane, Fred’s girlfriend, has another boyfriend, Bill, with a gambling debt. In a desperate moment, Bill signs Fred’s name to a voucher, to save his own neck. When goons arrive to squeeze $10,000 out of Fred, he convinces them it’s in everyone’s best interest to ensure the show completes its run.
Some of Kiss Me, Kate seems relatively innocuous today, but some of it doesn’t. You needn’t watch too carefully to notice how it winks and flirts with some of of the more tempestuous aspects of “romance”, how it dabbles with the risque. If Lilli sang “I Hate Men” with all the other women, perhaps she wouldn’t seem like such a lone wolf. Because it’s undeniable that Fred can be a dawg. (And of course, many other men.) He may be a rogue but he’s unscrupulous. Kiss Me, Kate strikes an uneasy balance between a rose-colored version of the world and the unfortunate moments. That’s what comic mockery does. I’m not sure how well it ages, but that being said, playfulness would seem to win the day.
Props and kudos to director Doug Miller, Mary Medrick (Music Director) Kelly McCain (Choreographer) and an astonishing, versatile, energetic cast, who have assembled a solid, deeply pleasurable, consistently clever musical show. The dance numbers are confident and imaginative, the performances authentic and fresh, the comedy snappy and flawlessly timed. I don’t know if I’ve ever been disappointed by a show at MainStage Irving. The experience is always crisp, resonant and professional. Miller has orchestrated a giddy, enjoyable musical with lots of fizz, hilarity and polish.
MainStage Irving – Los Colinas presents: Kiss Me, Kate, playing November 2nd–17th, 2018. Dupree Theatre. Irving Arts Center. 3333 N. MacArthur Blvd, Irving, Texas, 75062. (972) 594-6104. info@irvingtheatre.org