BWW Reviews: A Big Hug for KISS ME, KATE at Clackamas Rep

A few weeks ago I was lucky enough to see The Taming of the Shrew at Artists Repertory Theatre. Having another group put on Kiss Me, Kate right away makes an interesting contrast, and ClackAmas Repertory Theatre was kind enough to oblige. Kate also tells a story within a story, the battle between ex-spouses Fred and Lilli going on behind the scenes as they prepare to play the roles of Petruchio and Kate in a musical version of Shrew. The farcical goings-on behind the scenes add an extra layer of comedy to a play that is already quite humorous, and the songs add to the humor as well.

Director David Smith-English has found an accomplished cast and directed them to play vibrantly. There isn't a drab moment here; the sets and costumes are bright, the stage floor is cheerfully checkered, and everyone is energetic and upbeat. Even the gangsters who enter the story (one of the complications that Sam and Bella Spewack added to Shakespeare's plot) are likable and funny. The show never stops, though it is slowed down by a number of set changes and brief scenes played in front of a thin curtain. (A simpler set might have helped the flow, but even with these hiccups the show runs smoothly.)

Cole Porter's songs are justifiably classic, both the tunes that relate to the backstage story and the numbers for the show within the show, and this company has the voices to put them over sensationally. There seemed to be a disconnect between the performers and the orchestra at the performance I saw; most of the actors seemed to be a tiny bit flat, and yet they harmonized well with each other. I'm not sure what the issue was, and it didn't detract from my enjoyment of the performance, but some of the solos were definitely off kilter. In addition, some of the Porter songs are just plain long, with multiple encores, and the directors, actors, and choreographer tried everything to keep interest up, including sending the performers out into the audience, but some of the numbers just went on too long. (Mr. Porter was one of the greats, but he was not known for his brevity, and the jokes don't always justify the length.)

Of course, you have to have people who can do justice to Cole Porter and Shakespeare when you're casting Kate, and here the director made wonderful choices. Leif Norby was just about perfect as Fred and Petruchio, smooth and funny, yet tripped up by his own ego. He sang in a relaxed baritone but found the high notes when he needed them, particularly on "Were Thine That Special Face." Meredith Kaye Clark, as Lilli and Kate, seemed a bit too much of a nice young woman to play the bitter, divorced Lilli, but once she entered as Kate she got into the spirit of the comedy; her "I Hate Men" was hilarious throughout. She's got a phenomenal voice and a great smile, so take note of her solo concert at Clackamas Rep on August 18.

The supporting cast is mostly solid. Amelia Morgan-Rothschild was quite funny as the bubbly Lois (and Bianca), and made a comic delight of "Always True to You in My Fashion" for most of its length. James Sharinghousen and Heather Ovalle made the most of their solos, and Alexander Nathan turned "Too Darn Hot" into a comic masterpiece. The choreographer, Wes Hanson, pulled out all the stops during this number, but he had a sure touch throughout, with a wide variety of dances featured throughout the show, and the cast certainly had the talent to make each number special.

Kiss Me, Kate doesn't have the depth of The Taming of the Shrew, naturally, but it's a fine example of an old-fashioned musical comedy stuffed with entertaining songs and fine performances. Go, relax, and be prepared to laugh.

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