Poppy Rogers

The Gilbert and Sullivan Society of WA returns for its second major production of 2024. Straying from the traditional G&S its name suggests, it presents Cole Porter’s musical comedy Kiss Me, Kate.

Based on the book by Sam and Bella Spewack, Kiss Me, Kate is a show within a show; passions run high as former spouses feud onstage and off during a musical staging of Shakespeare’s The Taming of the Shrew. The egotistical leading man, director, and producer Fred Graham (Ian Lawrance) are reunited with his ex-wife, Lilli Vanessi (Hayley Parker), when the two are brought together to star opposite each other as Petruchio and Katherine in a new adaptation of The Taming of the Shrew.

While their barbed and battling relationship puts the entire company on edge, the show’s supporting actress, Lois (Taylor Westland), finds out that her gambling actor boyfriend, Bill (Calen Simpson), has racked up an enormous debt and is hiding out at the theatre to evade the collection by local mobsters.

It’s great to see local groups stage musicals that are well known for their large overseas productions, including the recent West End stage show and, of course, Broadway. The millennials in attendance will be familiar with the themes and characters of The Taming of The Shrew, thanks to 1999’s 10 Things I Hate About You.

Opening night at The University of Western Australia’s Dolphin Theatre was well attended and felt like the show had started as soon as you entered the foyer with a news kid (Ashlee Graveson) handing out flyers for that evening’s performance of The Taming of the Shrew. Two menacing gangsters (Samuel Farr and Tracey Myhill) also paced the foyer on the hunt for those with outstanding IOUs to be paid, adding a bit of fun while we waited.

Upon entering the auditorium, it was hard not to be excited to see the Orchestra front and centre rather than tucked away in the pit. However, if you were sat in the first row or two, it did mean they were eye level, so it was easy to get caught up in watching the musicians and not the action on stage.

The simple set and the inventive use of several elements in different ways, including spinning doors around to create the inside of dressing rooms, made for quick set changes. Keeping the set simple also came in handy for times when the entire cast was on stage, which had the potential to feel cluttered. I would have loved to have seen all of the performers in some scenes; however, there was a bit of blocking from those front and centre.

The four leads, Hayley Parker, Ian Lawrance, Taylor Westland, and Calen Simpson, delivered strong vocal performances and were supported by a talented ensemble. At times in the first half, the microphones had either not yet been switched on or could have been turned up more as dialogue was drowned out by the wonderful music. The same can be said for supporting cast members who didn’t have the luxury of microphones.

Well done to the costume team, as dressing a cast of this size can be challenging. I loved the details, right down to the shoe buckles strapped on—very clever.

With Cole Porter’s music and lyrics, it was hard not to keep your toe tapping all the way home. Even the next afternoon, I can’t get “Brush Up Your Shakespeare” out of my head. The cast is clearly having a great time performing this show, which is contagious for the audience.

Kiss Me, Kate is performed at The Dolphin Theatre in Crawley for an 11-show season.
October 4, 5, 9, 10, 11 and 12 at 7.30 pm
October 5 & 12 at 2 pm
October 13 at 3 pm

Bookings at https://www.gilbertandsullivanwa.org.au/

This review also appears on It’s On The House. Check out more reviews at Whats The Show to see what else is on in your town.

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