HEIDI DINE

MY REVIEW

On the 27^th February, I went to see the musical Kiss Me Kate which was performed at The Old Vic in London, directed by Trevor Nun, music and lyrics by Cole Porter and choreography by Stephen Mear.

 I thoroughly enjoyed the performance, as I had never seen anything like it before. I loved the fact that ‘Kiss Me Kate’ is a play within a play not a traditional musical. The main reason being that it was quite an old fashioned musical not like the modern musicals e.g. Matilda, Blood Brothers or Spring Awakenings. Everything fitted so well into the 50’s era; the costumes, the music even the language was accurate. I think this also affected the target audience, as the original film was released in 1953 the main bulk of the audience was quite elderly. At some moments in the show the older part of the audience would laugh but the younger generation wouldn’t get the joke much like Pantomimes with their innuendos (They tell me the Prince’s balls get bigger every year). I thought that the overall show was highly entertaining, there was good energy from the entire cast in the dances especially ‘Too Darn Hot’ and ‘Tom Dick or Harry’. Each scene was delivered with a clear and meaningful performance. For example, at the beginning of the show ‘Wundabar’, performed by Fred Graham and Lilli Vanessi, showed that they still loved each other even though only moments before they had mentioned how happy the couple were now that their divorce was final. This all happened within one of the opening scenes. I believe it is important to have romance as a theme in musicals as it has always been a main factor and it has always worked well. It’s something that everyone can relate to or something that people dream about, it keeps the audience interested.

At moments the plot was easy to follow, but at times it was quite difficult to understand the language. Mr. Graham’s wedding flowers were sent to the wrong girl, this caused anger and frustration in Miss Vanessi. This was visible throughout the performance of the Shakespeare play ‘The Taming of the Shrew’. She would go off script but still remain in character, still speaking in old English. I thought this was very clever and very comical especially when Lilli would be heard of stage screaming “YOU BASTARD!”. I also found it funny when Mr. Graham had had enough of Lilli’s misbehaving and quickly came out of  his Shakespearian character warning her of how he would give Lilli the biggest ‘pounding’ of her life on stage and he did by repeatedly slapping her on the bottom like a child over his knee. But at moments the plot was hard to follow as at some points I and many of the younger generation struggled to understand the language, as most of the performance was in Old English but I managed to understand the gist of the scene by watching the actor’s body language. I also noticed that when the actors would took off their wigs that the language would change back to the 50’s style dialect. This was helpful to me as I knew when the characters would return to their original dialect making their conversation’s easier to understand.

 I found the two gangsters very funny; how they appeared on the stage wearing an ill fitted costume with their suits still visible underneath and when one of the gangsters still had his sunglasses on the whole audience laughed. I thought these two characters were very good comic relief from the quite confusing old English language which was spoken throughout the majority of the play. Their song ‘Brush up your Shakespeare’ was comical because the audience thought the song had finished but the characters kept reappearing and singing another verse or chorus. 

I thought that the aesthetics were very clever and imaginative. When the actors were on stage the lights would be on them like a normal performance but when the actors were backstage looking through the curtain the lights were set so that it looked like the small amounts of light were coming though the curtains. At some points, the lights would even be facing the audience. This made the play within a play format authentic. I also liked when Lilli Vanessi was throwing a tantrum and she was not stood where she was set to stand so the spotlight was not on her person but on her set position. She then had to hint to the lighting to move and follow her as she was obviously not staying to the script.

I thought that the set was very impressive, the dressing rooms next door to each other, the dressing tables on the same piece of furniture just opposite, how when the taming of the shrew was being performed the set was very medieval and always colourless it would be black and white, very simple but very effective. The set played an important part in the show  as it showed the audience when “The Taming of the Shrew” was performed or when the actual show was performed.

My favourite part of the show was the song ‘Tom,Dick or Harry’ because it had the whole cast performing a tap routine including parting the stage and doing different phrases at the same time but then later performing it all in unison it was such a feel good number. But I later found out that this dance was performed to a click track, which I was slightly disappointed with. However, when I found out the reasons that companies use click tracks, I was much more understanding. If the cast are doing up to 8 shows a week, then they are going to be tired and some of the taps might not come out as anticipated or missed. It’s also used to keep a steady beat, as the orchestra have to keep up with the performers so it saves them chasing. But overall, I thought the score was very good. The music would change to fit the mood of the scene or song but also to the era. On every set change during the play medieval music would play to refer back to the time period.

Overall I really enjoyed the performance and I would definitely go back to watch it again, it had all the basic ingredients of a musical; songs, dances but with a very clever twist. I feel that the only piece of criticism I have is that I thought the ending was rushed. Lilli Vanessi went away with her fiancé to Washington but then suddenly returned within 5 minutes and kissed Fred.  But it was very entertaining and clever how ‘Kiss me Kate’ was a play within a play. The ensemble came on stage and started setting up for the performance before the actual show had started. They started to drift onto stage whilst the audience were taking their seats. The pianist was setting up his sheet music and the cleaner was dusting the floor. It made the audience feel involved with the production as the house lights were only dimmed and not turned off. The choreography was brilliant, ‘Too Darn Hot’ was a very jazzy number whereas ‘We Open in Venice’ was a Shakespearian number and you could really see the contrast. If I could change one thing about the show it would be to use less Shakespearian language, by doing this it would make it more accessible to the younger members of the audience as it would be easier to understand. Overall, it was a pleasure to watch and I really enjoyed the performance.

CATHRYN TURP

MY REVIEW


On the 27th February we visited The Old Vic to watch the matinee performance of
Kiss me Kate directed by Trevor Nunn, Choreography throughout by Stephen Mear
and music and lyrics by Cole Porter.

The tale of Kiss me Kate is a show within a show of how a cast work on
Shakespeare’s production in a musical of The Taming of the Shrew on stage and
back stage. The show included romance, gangsters and much more.

The theatre where the performance was being shown was very old and historic
looking. This fitted the criteria for the show being performed as it is a well-known
story and has been for many years.

The staging was set up as if we were back stage at the show. There were clothes
rails and a piano and clothes hooks and stage doors. When we were seated and
slowly settling into our seats the actors of the performance came on stage as if they
were setting up for a performance. This set the mood and slowly caught people’s
attention that the show was beginning.

I think the way the actors came on stage as if they were back stage at a performance
gathering things and then the opening song was brought in by a solo singer and the
chorus joined in. The dance of the opening number was well choreographed, it
included warm up for the actors that would be performing after they had all arrived
on set.

The costumes that were worn on stage were period related throughout and when
they were performing The Taming of the Shrew the costumes were changed to
relate.

The stage was well lit and you could tell the change in the lighting when we were in
the dressing room, as there were not only different props but also the lighting was
made to look differently.

During the performance the props and setting were bought on for The Taming of the
Shrew in a box and the actors pulled it out and stuck it up. This was very effective as
I don’t think many people had seen it before and it caught the audience’s attention. I
think it was also effective because it was made to look like part of the play and it
smoothly ran alongside it. It didn’t look messy, it looked very clean and well
rehearsed which is good because some of the changes looked very technical.

The sound quality was very good and everything said and sung could be heard
clearly. I think the accent that the actor Hannah Waddingham played as the
character of Katherine Minola was very effective during the song I hate men. I think
think this because it caught the audiences attention and because she was acting the
song it was easier to understand what she was singing about and understand the
words. I also think the way she changed her voice when playing Katherine and also
playing Lilli Vanessi was incredibly talented and skilful. It portrayed the two different
characters very well. There was a distinctive difference between the two characters
being played.

This version of the play that we saw was different and unique because of the fact
that Adam Garcia was casted to play the part of Bill Calhoun/ Lucentio. I think that
the tap dancing that they choreographed just for Adam Garcia’s scene was put in the
correct place and fitted well into the show. This was a good way to catch the
audience’s attention and keep them interested in what was going on.

The actors facial expressions were brilliant and even the people at the back were
able to see the difference in their expressions as they were big and bold. There was
clearly a difference.

I think overall that the production was well put on and very entertaining. There was a
clear difference in the scenes and when we were back stage and on stage and also
in the two cast changes that were portrayed. I didn’t understand the ending when Lilli
left Fred to go with her new partner and that she came back. I understood that she
came back on stage but I thought she was playing a different character. I spoke to
other people who knew what was going on and maybe it was just my prospective of
it. But I think that the ending could have been made simpler for people to understand
what was going on more.

PHOEBE BENNETT - BLOIS

MY REVIEW

When I went to see the production of ‘Kiss Me Kate’ at the Old Vic Theatre in London on the 27th February 2013, I was more than a little dubious. Before the show began, I was under the impression that the show would just not be my cup of tea. However my opinion was changed by the time I left. I found myself humming along and tapping my feet the majority of the way through having thoroughly enjoyed it.

 

The show was directed by Trevor Nunn whom has spent almost 20 years as the artistic director for the Royal Shakespeare Company and went on to hold the same title in the National Theatre. He has also had a lot of success with directing other Musicals in both the West End and Broadway as well as directing over 30 of William Shakespeare’s plays. The Musical Director was Gareth Valentine whom although does not have a large amount of accolades, he has worked in the West End on over 20 Musicals as well as conducting the BBC Concert Orchestra. The choreographer, Stephen Mear, has a wide and expansive range of experience within the Musical Theatre and has also won an Olivier award for Best Choreography for his work on Mary Poppins in 2005 as well as winning various other awards. Looking at the achievements alone that this trio have earned over the years, a good musical is already forming.

 

The two leads in the show were Fred Graham (Alex Bourne) and Lilli Vanessi (Hannah Wadingham) who carried both their entire cast and the audience through the story. Both performed amazingly but for me without a doubt Hannah stole the show. Whether it be when talking with her fiancé in an almost sickening way, or her amazingly bitter singing in ‘I Hate Men’, Waddingham could do no wrong in my eyes

The format of the show was also very cleverly laid out for the audience. The concept in itself was absolute genius. How many other musicals can boast of a layering of shows? Although confusing at first if not much is known on the show, it quickly becomes clear when the characters are backstage as their normal characters, and when they are on stage as their acting characters. Other than the language used, the other giveaway that the scene was changing was the brilliant scenery which seemed to move seamlessly with the actors. Simple yet effective.

 

The musical in itself is very cleverly written because of the actors playing a character, whom are playing another character themselves. It also means that the majority of the songs are placed well enough that they do not seem abnormal within a real life situation which although is a common convention of a Musical, does often leave me thinking ‘Was that song really necessary?’

On the flipside however, I feel that some of the jokes fell a bit flat on some of the younger audience members whether due to its content or the phrasing of it. One other thing that particularly bothers me with any musical is the thirst people have for a big name in a show. Adam Garcia is the example for this production and personally I feel that there was no need for him to be there as I’m sure any other performer would’ve been able to perform his role equally as well, if not better.

 

All in all I thoroughly enjoyed watching Kiss Me Kate and although the show has now closed, if it were to open again, I would recommend it to anyone!

JENNIFER OWENS

MY REVIEW

On Wednesday 27th of February my college class went to see Kiss Me Kate at the Old Vic. Trevor Nunn’s revival of the 1948 classic, I can safely say, was too darn hot. With music and lyrics by Cole Porter and the book written by Samuel and Bella Spewack the musical was just as fun and loving as it was 65 years back. There's no doubting the talent on display – either in Nunn's cast or Porter's blissful score, which includes ‘Always True to You in My Fashion’. And there's plenty of appeal in the Spewack's witty book, in which backstage rivalries and love affairs spill over on stage as a theatre company produces an out-of-town musical version of ‘The Taming of the Shrew.’ 

The show stared much talent including Hannah Waddingham and Alex Bourne. Also a familiar face, Adam Garcia tapped his way into the limelight as leading role, Bill. Hannah Waddingham stood out for me, changing her vocal tone throughout. ‘The Taming of the Shrew’ showcased her strong, operatic voice in contrast to her modern tone in the backstage scenes, with smooth licks and riffs. This was effective because it helped to distinguish the two different characters, which is essential to this format of musical. However I was let down by Adam Garcia. He gave an egotistical impression, almost as if he was too good for this musical. I was unimpressed with the click track he danced to in the added tap number because he is a professional tap dancer and should be able to perform this live.

 

The format of this musical is different to the average performance because it features a play within a musical. This isn’t something that is done often; in fact it’s quite rare. I feel this worked really well because the setting and lighting was well executed. When the performers were backstage there was a light projecting onto the set, cast extras were walking back and forth so shadows were formed. This gave the impression that ‘The Taming of the Shrew’ was still being performed whilst the leads were arguing and continuing discussions of their personal life. I liked the way Hannah Waddinghams character overlapped her offstage anger with her ‘Shrew’ character. This was cleverly done and worked well. 

The original score is written by Cole Porter in which the music is classical with a alight urban fizz. That urban fizz is double the fun in this revival. The musical number ‘Too Darn Hot’ was the highest point of the show. The music over powered the atmosphere in the room and lifted the whole theatre into the sexy number and had everyone out their seats. The band in full swing enhanced the dancers on stage, who gave the number exuberance and excitement. Splits and kicks filled the stage and the technique of all this was bang on point.

Frankly, nights at the theatre don’t often come more enjoyable than this!

SIAN REBECCA JOHNSON

MY REVIEW

‘Kiss Me Kate’ was directed by Trevor Nunn when it was performed at the Old Vic Theatre and he did an outstanding job. It is set in 1940’s America about a theatre company running a production of the Shakespeare play “Taming of the Shrew”. The plot revolves around the love story of the divorced couple Lilli Vanessi and Fred Graham (Hannah Waddingham and Alex Bourne).

                  Waddingham and Bourne had such brilliant on stage chemistry; it was a delight to watch. The whole cast between them have a fantastic history in theatre and putting them together with such talent set a high standard to follow for anyone who wishes to follow by reviving the musical again. Stephen Mears choreography was second to none, I found that his work in ‘Too Darn Hot’ was the highlight of the show for me, it really made me feel like inspired in what I do that one day I could be on that stage.

                  The vocals in the show were absolutely fantastic; Hannah Waddingham’s portrayal of ‘I Hate Men’ was my favourite number of the show with her vocals being absolutely on point and her facial expressions throughout really helped in telling the story she was trying to tell.

                  I feel I must point out it was a pleasure to watch Adam Garcia tap in person, I have always wanted to see him tap dancing live and he did not disappoint, I couldn’t look away from him when he was onstage singing or dancing, he commands your attention effortlessly.

                  The only bad thing I will say to put the show down was that at three hours, it is lengthy and sometimes the plot could drag a little bit. All in all however, I thoroughly enjoyed the experience and would recommend it to anyone, the cast were brilliant, the set design and costumes were outstanding and the direction and choreography where absolutely fantastic. A must see musical if you have the time to see it.

ELEANOR HUDSON

MY REVIEW


Kiss Me Kate has a show within a show structure, with a troublesome love story linking the two. They've taken Shakespeare's 'The Taming Of The Shrew' and revived it, however Broadway co-stars and (still madly in love with each other) divorcees, Lilli Vanessi and Fred Graham, get slightly more into character through some behind the scenes conflict. This comical production is filled with energising dances, that even make the audience feel out of breath and heart melting performances which leave not only the cast breathless but the audience as well.

Director, Trevor Nunn, has taken ''Kiss Me Kate'' and revived it to a new, bigger, higher level. With bigger dancers, better lights and set even down to the smallish details, they have been perfected.

Starting with the lighting and set. Most of the lighting was a general wash, for a realistic effect. The only time lights were used to create an emotion was during 'Too Damn Hot', where a gentle, orange wash was used, this helped the audience feel the heart which added nicely to the body language and motions they were pursuing.

I felt that the way they changed set was incredibly creative and clever. Nunn used almost no blackouts, and only one curtain. Small boxes were carried on by the chorus and placed centre stage. Then the chorus dancers made changing scene into a routine, by using polls to gracefully uplift a new setting. The set was always in black and white and almost looked as if it was a picture drawn onto paper. This prevents distraction for the dramatic performance in front. Also during Shakespeare's production, the chorus costumes are also black and white which looks lovely on stage lots of bold patterns, however your attention is still drawn to the characters.

Back to the beginning, the show didn't really have a start. The cast slowly come on as members of the production team and stage setting up the lights and set. On stage right is someone getting ready at the piano, at this point the audience are still in full conversation and are wondering why the stalls lights have not been dimmed as of yet. Slowly, the chorus dancers and cast flow onto stage and get into places. Nunn's decision executed 'another opening, another show' in a different fashion. The routine was full out and there were added harmonies to make the song more interesting.

The dance costumes were very 70's which modernised the era in which the show was originally set. The differences in costume also helped to show the audience when they were back stage and when they were doing the show, there never seemed to be a point when the audience was confused as to where the characters were. The language used also helped set and contrast the scenes in different time periods, for example when the actors were performing in ' The Taming Of The Shrew, they would use Elizabethan language

REBECCA CORBIN

MY REVIEW

On the 27^th of February, Trevor Nunn’s production of Kiss Me Kate at the Old Vic Theatre won me over with its modern yet old fashioned take on such a classic musical. Before seeing the show I wasn’t as enthusiastic about seeing it as I should have been because it wasn’t a show I have looked into before therefore I didn’t know much about it. However this musical definitely proves ‘never judge a book by its cover’ as it totally won me over.  To start with I thought the casting was fantastic, Alex Bourne as Fred Graham/Petruchio was great casting he brought an arrogance to the role which made every audience member fall in love with him through his comic lines to his sometimes loving nature. When he was playing both his characters you could see the difference between the two but you could still see that the love mess between him and Lilli Vanessi was hot on his mind. I am a big fan of Adam Garcia I think his such a great performer however I didn’t understand why he was dancing to a click track, I’m hoping this was more for the chorus than him as he is a phenomenal tapper. However putting the click track to one side, what he was doing on stage was amazing and to be able to witness such talent really helped me to enjoy the musical a lot more. He looked quite smug through his tap number which I feel like was part of his character as I met him afterwards and he is lovely, so in the case of changing from himself to a different character I feel like he did this very well. Two other characters that stood out for me was the two gangsters, first man played by David Burt and second man played by Clive Rowe. I thought these two characters were a breath of fresh air to the musical, especially their song ‘brush up your Shakespeare’, I don’t think I have laughed so much at one song before, these two brilliant performers really made the parts their own and did a fantastic job. However performance of the show has to go to Hannah Waddington as Lilli Vanessi when she sang ‘I Hate Men’ I thought this was funny, yet sincere and I think every woman in the audience agreed with some part of that song or have done in moments of their life. Even though in this song she was playing her Shakespeare character Kate, you could tell she was singing it as Lilli but still stayed in character of her part at all times, and I applaud that.

I thought the set was very clever and the way that the scenery for the Shakespeare scenes popped out of the ground onto poles in the air but it was done through dance so it didn’t look out of place or random at all. I also liked the fact that when scenes were going on back stage you could see a light at the back of the stage with people moving around in the shadows to make it look like the show was still going on, on stage, which was very clever.

Over all I thought everything about the show was fantastic my only critisisum would be that the Shakespeare could have been slowed down slightly because sometimes I got lost on what was happening and why people were laughing, but apart from that I would recommend everyone I know to go and see the show.