Kiss Me Kate 1999 revival

[averagebwaynut]

Ghostlight,

The tidbit comes from having been present during the tech process, seeing the attempts, and then seeing the moment cut.

The moment you reference -- which the UK TV director inexplicably cuts away from -- is indeed a nice little moment, but the level of difficulty was far lower than the Donald O'Connor backflip. I agree that it's perhaps surprising he couldn't pull it off reliably (maybe the wall was not inclined sufficiently; maybe the incline of the wall could not be masked sufficiently -- I honestly don't know), but such was indeed the case.

I do recall thinking that Berresse was probably the closest thing Broadway had at that time to a true Gene Kelly-type -- muscular, charismatic, thoroughly theatrical dancer with the chops to handle a wide variety of styles and a decent-enough voice to boot (say what you will, but Kelly was no amazing singer either). Makes me wish "An American in Paris" had been developed 15 years ago because I suspect MB is too old to play/dance it now.

[MrMidwest]

Marin & Brian on The Rosie O Show

[Wynbish]

... That moment never happened in the show.

[morosco]

Saw it with Carmello. She was wunderbar.

[ghostlight2]

"The moment you reference -- which the UK TV director inexplicably cuts away from -- is indeed a nice little moment, but the level of difficulty was far lower than the Donald O'Connor backflip."

Thanks, averagebwaynut, for sharing that tidbit. I'd have cut the stunt simply b/c it is a kinda hoary one associated with old movie musicals Those inclined walls are difficult to mask - even Donald O"Connor's was pretty obvious, and that was only a quick shot in the film. I remember being quite impressed when Johnny Galecki (I think) did it on Saturday Night Live, though. As to the swinging around the upright, oddly, that was one of the stunts David Elder didn't do. I always wondered why, since it didn't seem particularly difficult.

"I do recall thinking that Berresse was probably the closest thing Broadway had at that time to a true Gene Kelly-type -- muscular, charismatic, thoroughly theatrical dancer with the chops to handle a wide variety of styles and a decent-enough voice to boot (say what you will, but Kelly was no amazing singer either). Makes me wish "An American in Paris" had been developed 15 years ago because I suspect MB is too old to play/dance it now."

I think he could do it - he's in great shape - but would he want to? He's branched out in the last few years, into directing, writing and performing non-musical roles, like Father Michael in Kathleen Turner's HIGH, which he fortunately departed before it crashed and burned on Broadway - and now getting excellent reviews as Mickey Marcus in THE NORMAL HEART. He would have been great in AN AMERICAN IN PARIS. I always thought he'd be a perfect Pal Joey.

"If you want a good this-will-get-me-drunk drinking game, watch the show on YouTube or DVD, and take a shot when Berresse does a random laugh, "heh" or "awww/ohhh". I love them."

You missed the joyous "YES!" just before the backflip, Wynbish. He's always been a vocal dancer. I don't know if you saw Encores NO NO NANETTE, but he had 3 big dance numbers in that show, and you would have been more than a little tipsy by the end of that show

[Wynbish]

jamiekennywicked, Adam Garcia is Bill in the Chichester production, right? How was he?

[Wynbish]

Those arms!

[ghostlight2]

Playbill photo Gallery of Berresse

[Wynbish]

Imagine if he had worn the costume from the movie
The pink one

[jamiekennywicked]

Adam Garcia was good. Hannah Waddingham (Lilli) was a standout for me and I also really enjoyed Hattie (Wendy Mae Brown) in a role that can sometimes be a little overlooked.

[Jon]

Ghostlight - I believe it was Joseph Gordon Levitt who did it on SNL.

[D2]

I saw it twice, the first time shortly after it opened, and the second time the following summer. We took my parents to see it to celebrate their 51st Wedding Anniversary -- they'd seen the original production on their honeymoon in 1949. Watching my father, who had just been diagnosed with Parkinson's, sit there with a big grin on his face the entire time made it all the more enjoyable, and is one of my favorite memories of that fabulous production.

[ghostlight2]

You are absolutely right, Jon. It was Joseph Gordon Levitt. Thanks. I don't know why I get him and Galecki confused.


Levitt doing the O'Connor backflip

[DottieD'Luscia]

I saw the revival 3 times, the first time one of the last previews before opening. I absolutely loved this production, and thoroughly enjoyed Amy Spanger's performance. I saw the tour in DC with Rex Smith and Rachel York. Rachel was wonderful, whereas I found Rex's vibrato to be extremely annoying. Nancy Anderson paled in comparison to Amy Spanger (IMO).

The sets and costumes were quite beautiful.

[jamiekennywicked]

Great to hear such great reports! Does anyone think, if this is revived in the new 2 years Catherine Zeta Jones would make a good Lilli? Or perhaps Laura Benanti?

[PalJoey]

Please no, to Catherine Jones. No, please. No. NO!

[onedaymore]

Ugh, please keep CZJ OFF Broadway. Not as in an Off-Broadway show, but as in away from ever being casted again ever. Yuck. She ruined one of my favorite roles, ever. Sorry to anyone who likes her.

Also, what about Audra as Lilli if they revived it again?

[Wynbish]

Ooh child, and how the keys will need to be lowered for CZJ.

Laura would be fine. I'm hoping for a She Loves Me revival with her as Amalia.

[onedaymore]

Ugh, I completely forgot about that. From what I remember Lilli's singing is quite high and oh god it would just sound disastrous with it lowered for her. Laura Benanti would be wonderful too but can she sing soprano either? Correct me if I'm wrong...

[wickedfan]

Laura Benanti is a classically trained soprano, and had only done soprano roles up until The Wedding Singer (Maria in Sound of Music, Cinderella in Into the Woods, Eileen in Wonderful Town at Encores). Audra would really be lovely and funny as hell in the role.