Cole Porter skewers the Bard in fine 'Kiss Me Kate'
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Ellen Jaworski is Lilli (Kate) and G. Richard Ames is Fred (Petruchio) in the QuarryWorks production of Cole Porter’s “Kiss Me Kate.” Jim Lowe/Times Argus |
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By Jim Lowe Times Argus Staff - Published: July 18, 2009
CALAIS – QuarryWorks opened an effervescent, colorful and downright hilarious production of "Kiss Me Kate," Cole Porter's musical take on Shakespeare's "The Taming of the Shrew," Thursday at the Adamant Music School's Phillips Experimental Theater. Sponsored by the Adamant Cultural Foundation, QuarryWorks presents the most elaborate community theater in the area, free to all comers.
"Kiss Me Kate," which hit Broadway on 1948 and ran for more than 1,000 performances, takes the Shakespeare comedy and presents it both in front of and behind the curtain. The egotistical Fred Graham, actor and producer, and the diva actress Lilli Vanessi, Fred's ex-wife, are playing Petruchio and Kate in a musical version of "The Taming of the Shrew" in Baltimore previews. But Fred and Lilli are even more like Petruchio and Kate off the stage than on.
That plot has all sorts of wonderful subplots, including Fred's new girlfriend, gangsters and a major general. This is all set to Porter's eminently witty music and lyrics. It's not only one of the great musicals, it's one of the few suitable for adults.
The QuarryWorks production, directed by Michael John Suchomel, is an elaborate one but, more importantly, it benefited on opening night from stellar performances in the lead roles and a fine pit band. As one of the QuarryWorks trademarks is a wide range of ages and acting levels in its casts, this provided the backbone that made it work well.
G. Richard Ames, a respected veteran Vermont actor, as Fred, and Ellen Jaworski, a college theater major, as Lilli were particularly effective dramatically and musically – as well as a being downright funny. Ames was the perfect leading man, arrogant but sensitive, and a very good singer. Jaworski overdid the theatricals a bit, but not only was she a credible character, she sang strongly and beautifully.
Sarah Venooker, as the sultry Lois Lane, and Brickett Bailey as her boyfriend Bill Calhoun, also sang well and proved most entertaining. Veteran actors Russ Longtin as Harry Trevor and Edgar Davis as Gen. Howell, Lilli's betrothed, also created entertaining characters.
Among the younger players, Alex Nofitz and Eric Hill were a riot as the two gangsters. And Maer Gillespie and Greer Gillespie proved outstanding and attractive dancers in choreography by Venooker (Lois Lane). The younger performers all seemed to have a good time and that worked well.
The only overall criticism was that there was a bit too much overacting; the show is funny already and it doesn't need any help. And the finale was a bit clumsy so the audience wasn't quite sure when it was over. But these are very minor quibbles about a very entertaining evening.
Dan Violette was the musical director and led the pit band from the keyboard. The most colorful and attractive set was by Julie Mueller, Natalie Mitchell and Eric Ryea, while the equally colorful costumes were by Carol Rook Vantuinen, and dramatic lighting was by Grant Orenstein.
QuarryWorks' "Kiss Me Kate" is fun and funny.