Kiss Me, Kate is a winner
on Sacramento CCT stage
Reviewed by Joe Blenkle/Sacramento Stage & Theatre
    KISS ME, KATE, the latest entry into California Musical Theatre's Broadway Series, ran at the Community Center Theatre Jan. 29 through Feb. 3.

    After falling in love with this musical back in 1996 (when it appeared during the summer Music Circus season), I looked forward to seeing it on the big stage - and it did not disappoint!

    Based on the William Shakespeare classic THE TAMING OF THE SHREW, KISS ME KATE is the tale of Fred Graham (Rex Smith) and Lilli Vanessi (Rachel York) who were once married and now have an uneasy relationship as the lead actors in a touring company's production of THE TAMING OF THE SHREW. It's kind of a play within a musical!

    The lives of the pair closely mirrors the characters they are playing. Both still feel an attraction toward each other on the inside, but put on a combative and fiery relationship on the outside - never wanting to admit that what once was could still be.

    In addition to being the lead actor, Graham also is the director which throws ex-wife Lilli into fits as she must take orders from him.

    After finding out the flowers she thought Fred had sent her were really intended for another actress (Lois Lane - played perfectly by Jenny Hill), Lilli threatens to quit the show in the middle of a performance. But complicating matters are two gangsters trying to mistakingly collect a gambling debt from Graham - turning everything into a hilariously funny outing.

    Graham convinces the gangsters (Richard Poe and Michael Arkin) that they must keep Lilli in the show or they can never collect their money. The pair put on a crowd-pleasing performance in the roles of the mobsters who are suddenly thrown into the middle of the performance so Lilli can't escape.

    Lilli's contempt for Fred spills over into their performance as the duo takes sudden departures from the script while trying to keep in character as Petruchio and Katharine.

    Smith and York are perfect in their rolls as the lovers who hate each other. Smith's befuddled looks over York's "shrew-ness" are priceless as the pair weaves a funny, but heart-warming tale.

The Cast of KISS ME, KATE
 Hattie - Susan Beaubian  Paul - Randy Donaldson  Ralph - Kevin B. McGlynn
 Lois Lane/Bianca - Jenny Hill  Bill Calhoun/Lucentio - Jim Newman   Lilli Vanessi/Katharine - Rachel York
 Dance Captain/Nathaniel - Lee A. Wilkins  Fred Graham/Petruchio - Rex Smith  Harry Trevor/Baptisa - Herman Petras
 Pops - Keith Howard  Cab Driver/Gregory - Steven Sofia  First Man - Richard Poe 
 Second Man - Michael Arkin  Harrison Howell - Chuck Wagner  Gremio - Stephen Reed
 Hortensio - John D. Baker   Philip - Roland Rusinek  Haberdasher - Michael Lackey 

    The cast delivers a number of crowd-pleasing tunes, including "Wunderbar" (Smith and York), "Tom, Dick or Harry," (Hill, Stephen Reed, John D. Baker and Jim Newman), "I Hate Men," (York) and "Always True to You (In My Fashion)" (Hill).

    If you get the chance to see the touring company of KISS ME, KATE, don't pass it up. It's great entertainment and one of the funniest love stories that you'll ever see.

    To see more about KISS ME, KATE, visit the official web site at www.kissmekateontour.com. For more on the Broadway Series and Music Circus, visit www.CaliforniaMusicalTheatre.com.
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