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Too Darn Hot!
7th May 2008
By
Renée Maloney
Following on
from last year’s success of “High Society” another Cole Porter
classic,
Park Players proudly presents:
Since the
debut of Park Players in 1998 with Pirates of Penzance, “Kiss me
Kate” is the eleventh show presented by the Park Orchards community
group.
“Kiss Me Kate”
is a big colourful musical following the story of a divorced pair of
actors (Fred and Lilli) brought back together to perform a musical
version of Shakespeare’s classic “Taming of the Shrew”. The four
main cast members onstage performance is also surprisingly
influencing their off stage life. However, they live happily ever
after (don’t they always!!)
I spoke with Director Peter Roberts about “Kiss Me Kate” – its
highlights, the similarities between the Cole Porter classic and
Shakespeare, choreography and the movie.
Why do you
think "Kiss me Kate" was such a hit on Broadway - the first time in
1948 and with both revivals in 1999 and 2001?
Cole Porter had written musicals before - all full of wonderful
songs - But this was his most successful. The songs he wrote for
this one surpass his other work because they mesh so beautifully
together with the book by Sam and Bella Spewak - this is the
difference. This is a very early musical in the sense of musicals as
we know them now - But very contemporary of its day. The tunes were
the pop music of the late '40's. The icing on the cake were the
fully fleshed out leading characters - beautifully written three
dimensional characters. Sam and Bella Spewak were writing somewhat
autobiographically: they were a show biz couple who split up and got
back together so the backstage fencing we see between Fred and Lilli
onstage has its basis in truth. The book is stunning - witty, funny,
spiteful and true. Besides the dialogue the play has a terrific
structure, full of contrast and surprise. The revival late last
century was a success because it is a damn fine piece of work and
beautifully re-realized by that creative team.
Besides the
'play within the play' what are the parallels between "Kiss me Kate"
and "Taming of the Shrew"?
It’s that
universal love thing - In order to live happily with a partner you
must be willing to sacrifice something of yourself, swallow your
pride, admit your mistakes, lose something of yourself to gain
something new and special with another. Surrendering part of the
self to love? The Taming of the Shrew is a play of its day -
Katherine's final speech is hard for a modern audience to accept,
her total surrender to her husband's will. Petruchio doesn't have
to admit his mistakes explicitly but as an audience we've seen them.
It is true for Kiss Me Kate. Kiss Me Kate makes Katherine's aka
Lilli's speech (in song) palatable because we've seen Fred's
mistakes and we see a modern woman delivering it - I don't think
anyone really believes that Lilli would "meekly put her hand 'neath
the toe of her husband's foot" as the lyric states, or that Fred
would respect her if she did.
What would be a couple of highlights in the show to look out for?
Cracking
lead performances from Zach Brown, Lizzie Matjacic, Rachel Juhasz
and
Scott Reid. The range of musical styles Porter serves up beautiful
ballads like "So In Love", crack-up routines like Tom, Dick and
Harry and Brush Up Your Shakespeare.
Too Darn Hot will knock ya socks off. Ryan Jacobs' musical
direction will once again dazzle the punters - Abbey-Jane Jones’
clever choreography is a delight.
The show is a
big act and sing for the two leads but is punctuated with moments of
intense energized dance. Our dance troupe has danced their asses off
in rehearsal. Abbey has choreographed some amazing routines and
really lifted the bar for everyone, it’s a huge credit to her.
These numbers are a highlight of the show but the show as a whole,
must be and is, the highlight.
How similar
is this version to the movie (1953)? What have your team drawn from
the movie and what have you drawn from the stage show? Certain
lyrics were changed for the movie to be less risqué, has the show
been re-written to reflect this?
I haven't seen
the film version but I saw the stage revival when I was in London in
2001? The revival is a revised version of the original script,
there are subtle changes to the book and orchestrations. This is
the version we are presenting. It's still "Too DARN Hot" though.
I believe the "Dick-a Dicks" have always been in the lyrics of "Tom
Dick or Harry" ever since 1948. I guess they had sex then too. A
Director once
said to me, "Every generation thinks they invented sex - I guess
it's too wonderful a discovery to believe it can't be something
new!" The Porter classic FROM THIS MOMENT ON is included as a song
for the character of General Harrison Howell in this version. It
was not written for Kiss Me Kate but creates a nice opportunity for
some beautiful comic moments for The General, Lilli, Fred and the
Gangsters.
In the words
of Director Peter Roberts, “Kiss me Kate” is “A joyous, poignant and
passionate production of a wonderful
piece of musical theatre. Hilarious and moving - sexy and sensual.
A whole bucket of fun and love!!
And with those Porter tunes - you can't help but be humming!
You can
check out “Kiss Me Kate” at the
Karralyka
Theatre,
Mines Road,
Ringwood
16-18th May 2008.
For
bookings call Diana on 03 9844 5827 or check out
www.parkplayers.com.au
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