Before I review
Opera North’s production of Kiss Me, Kate, a few words about
culture may be appropriate. Now we all know that the Italians gave us opera and
the Mafia: the Viennese served us operetta and strudel; the English provided
Shakespeare and Imperialism; the Americans delivered Broadway musicals and
Trump and the Greeks gave us civilization.
Speaking of
imperialism, the Broadway musical has definitely adopted imperialist
proclivities as regards the English, because it dominates the genre in the theaters
of London. Which raises the question (really?) which are the best Broadway
musicals? If forced to name a handful, I would include Cole Porter’s Kiss Me,
Kate which was just one reason for wanting to see it. Its production by
Opera North (that refers to north England and not North Dakota or North Bay)
suggests that it is not a run-of-the mill musical but indeed a masterpiece.
Opera North
takes no short cuts in its production at the sumptuous London Coliseum. Dutch
baritone Quirijn de Lang plays the actor Fred Graham who plays Petruchio in the
Shrew. De Lang is an opera singer as
is soprano Stephanie Corley who plays his wife Lilli Vanessi and Kate the
shrew. They make a fine pair who sing superbly and carry the comedy without a
hitch. They have a number of songs including “Wunderbar,” the lilting waltz
which was intended to satirize Viennese operetta (Porter did not like the
genre) but people decided to love the song. They get wonderful solos such as
Kates’s “I Hate Men” and Petruchio’s “I’ve Come To Wive
It Wealthily.”
Kiss Me, Kate has a large number of wonderful songs (arias really), duets and
ensemble pieces that are done beautifully, robustly and just plain
entertainingly. Bianca (Zoe Rainey) gets to sing “Tom, Dick or Harry” with her
suitors and the marvelous “Always True To You” to her gambling boyfriend
Joseph Shovelton
and John Savournin brought the house down as the two would-be-literate
enforcers (Italy is included, you see). They are listed as Gunmen come to
collect on a gambling bet for their employer and sing and dance “Brush Up You
Shakespeare” to hilarious effect.
Other performers
of distinction are Alan Burkitt as Bill Calhoun / Lucentio, Stephane Anelli as
Paul, Aiesha Pease as Hattie and Malcolm Ridley as Harrison Howell.
Opera North has
a full chorus and a full orchestra conducted by James Holmes for the production.
This is no ordinary musical with short cuts. Jo Davies directed the original
production which premiered in Leeds in September 2015 and Ed Gogggin directs
this revival. The choreography for the 2015 performances was done by Will
Tuckett and David James Hulston is the revival choreographer. Opera North has
eight dancers who perform with superb coordination, athleticism and
talent.
I trust I made
no secret of my love of Kiss Me, Kate and my enjoyment of
the production. Once again looking at the big picture of the cultural map, the
United Kingdom from North to south must be happy. The Americans are obviously
included. There are nods of gratitude and recognition to the Italians and the Viennese.
And we are all happy because everything was started by the Greeks. Just go see
this production, OK?
Kiss Me, Kate by Cole
Porter (music and lyrics) and Samuel and
Bella Spewack (book) opened on June 20 and will run until June 30, 2018 at the London Coliseum, St Martin's Lane,
London, WC2N 4ES, England. https://www.operanorth.co.uk/productions/kiss-me-kate
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