Theater Review—

Richter’s Production Of ‘Kiss Me, Kate’ Offers A Sophisticated Musical Treat

By Julie Stern

DANBURY — The idea for Kiss Me Kate was born in 1935 when the future producer, Saint Subber, was working as a stagehand on a production of The Taming of the Shrew, and it occurred to him that the relationship between the co-stars, husband and wife team Alfred Lunt and Lynn Fontanne, was as stormy backstage as the Shakespearean union of Katherine and Petrucchio. But it would not be until after World War II that the idea would be realized, with a script by comedy writers Sam and Bella Spewack, and a score by Cole Porter.

The humor and the wonderful music are what give the show its timeless strengths. Its origins in the prewar days when it was standard practice to write a musical about people putting on a show are what make it seem somewhat dated and static.

This is to say that whatever faults audiences may find with the Musicals at Richter production, they stem from the show itself and not the cast, which is full of vocal and comic talent, as well as a buoyant spirit and enthusiasm on the part of everyone involved.

In case you are not familiar with the plot, Fred Graham and Lilli Vanessi are opening in Baltimore in the lead roles of Shakespeare’s Taming of The Shrew. Formerly married to each other they are now spiteful enemies, who snipe away at one another incessantly.

Lilli hopes to leave the stage to marry her millionaire fiancé, the southern conservative politician Harrison Howell. Fred has designs on Lois Lane, the second female lead who plays Katherine’s sweet tempered sister, Bianca. And Bianca’s boyfriend, Bill Calhoun (who plays her suitor Lucentio on stage), has run up a $10,000 gambling debt to which he signed Fred Graham’s name on an IOU.

When two strongarm men come to demand their money, Graham tells them that they can only get it if the play is a success. If Lilli leaves to marry Howell, the show will be cancelled. In order to make sure she doesn’t leave, the two gangsters dress up as “extras” and follow her around the stage.

Just as Petrucchio eventually succeeds in taming Katherine and making her into a loving and appreciative wife, Lilli will respond to the call of her true love – the theater – and stay where she belongs.

Rebecca Barko, a newcomer to MAR, brings both a rich beautiful voice and a delightful comic presence to the role of Lilli/Kate and she is well matched by Christopher Gladysz as Fred/Petruchio. This pair is clearly professionals who know what they are doing and do it supremely well.

Newtown resident Elizabeth English, who recently starred as Maria in the NHS production of West Side Story, is both sweet and competent as Lois/Bianca. Eddie Lopez as Bill/Lucentio shows himself to be a very able dancer. However, they are both outshadowed by the principals.

There were some outstanding smaller performances turned in by other cast members: Crystal John, who starred as Eliza Doolittle in the recent Danbury HS production of My Fair Lady, belts out a dynamite rendition of “Too Darn Hot,” in addition to anchoring the chorus in its other ensemble numbers.

MAR veteran Priscilla Squiers, despite being in the ninth month of pregnancy, demonstrates her considerable talents in the role of backstage dresser, Hattie, as well as her singing voice delivering “Another Op’nin Another Show”

Two other Newtowners acquit themselves well: The very young but extremely tall and poised Stephen Petrovich, in the part of the male dresser, Paul, and the older and more experienced John McMahon, who brings levity and pomposity to the part of the self-important millionaire, Harrison Howell.

Last, but definitely not least, Chris Lieby and Peter M. Lerman are wonderful as the two thugs, intellectually improved by having spent the last eight years in the Atlanta penitentiary prison library, and real good sports about going on stage in short jerkins and funny hats. When the two of them perform the comic number “Brush Up Your Shakespeare,” they keep the audience in stitches.

With 18 Cole Porter songs including “Wunderbar,”  “So in Love,”  “I’ve Come to Wive it Wealthily in Padua,”  “Always True To You (in My Fashion)” and “Why Can’t You Behave,” Kiss Me Kate is a sophisticated musical treat for a summer’s evening.

(Performances of Kiss Me, Kate continue outdoors at 100 Aunt Hack Road, Danbury, through July 27. Curtain is at 8:30 each Friday through Sunday, but the grounds open at 7:15 for picnic dinners. Call 748-6873 for ticket details and other information.)