(seen at the afternoon preview performance on 8th June 2024)
Bartlett Sher has overhauled previously three Broadway classics – “The King and I,” “South Pacific” and “My Fair Lady” to international acclaim.
For the first time he originates a revival outside his usual Lincoln Center Theater home, and the Barbican should be grateful for the honour.
“Kiss Me Kate” may not be quite the calibre of the previous three as a musical. The tunes are almost equally as dazzling, the lyrics almost equally zinging, but the book is slightly rushed, with actors and plot turning up late in act two and previously set up ideas vanishing inexplicably.
Luckily, it really does not matter. Michael Yeargan puts a huge revolve into the floor of the vast Barbican stage (short folk considering the front row, please note advice here). An inspired towering set turns to reveal backstage, dressing rooms and stage door areas – the skeletal supports of illusion revealed as it does so. Adding a 'prompt corner' further distinguishes the on-stage element and provides a little extra backstage humour from the cast.
Catherine Zuber has the ladies’ chorus in stockings, suspenders and “Too Darn Hot” basques. The gents are in sharp suits... until all are Shakespearean costumed, gangsters too (and they get to keep the hats).
Donald Holder simply has fun highlighting the main singers the old-fashioned spotlight way, Don Sebesky’s orchestrations give it all a fresh feel without losing the period touch, while Adam Fisher makes certain we can hear every word and note without fuzz, whatever is happening on stage. It may be odd to include such technical aspects in an opinion, but trust the monkey, this time it is important.
Director Bartlett Sher and choreographer Anthony Van Laast have a stellar cast at their fingertips and get the most from each of them. As an ensemble they move as one, at other times fluid yet individual – a mixture of classic and more updated musical theatre technique which fills gloriously every corner and level of the stage from the moment they begin drifting on pre-overture to the final sweeping exit.
Apparently new to musical theatre, Adrian Dunbar is Fred, producer of a terrible touring show and ex-husband of a terrible diva Lilli (Stephanie J Block) with whom he is saddled, inexplicably.
The pair move from sniping to outright shelling, hilariously in tune. Block is the experienced Broadway star, and it is a stunning London debut nobody will want to miss.
Dunbar may handle Shakespeare a little more confidently than songs, but he more than does the job and by the end of the run will no doubt have every musical theatre casting director requesting his services.
Lilli’s assistant Hattie (Josie Benson) opens the show, and her voice is a gift, her acting enough that a single glance speaks volumes.
Young couple Bill Calhoun and Lois Lane (Charlie Stemp and Georgina Onuorah) are equally well matched as performers, mis-matched lovers in the show. A smaller role than usual for Stemp, but he still manages a show-stealing dance moment in act two.
Onuorah’s work in “Always True To You In My Fashion” stops the show, nothing more to be said there.
While the show really is stopped, terrific gangsters Hammed Animashaun and Nigel Lindsay do their stuff in “Brush Up Your Shakespeare.” A double-act equally at home with comedy, menace and philosophy, Animashaun is huge in stature and stage presence, Lindsay countering with nervous energy and cunning. No wonder the stage manager wanted to keep them on as long as possible.
In smaller roles, Peter Davison is a relaxed General Harrison Howell embodying everything a theatrical life can never be. Jack Butterworth as Paul does good service and James Hume is a luckless Pops who deserves a fresh cigarette.
There is no comparison with last year’s sprawling summer Barbican Theatre musical. This year it is a pure class, astonishingly polished treat of an old master restored with all original colours gleaming like they were painted yesterday.
True to us in their fashion, this is far more than just another opening to another show. Brush up your musical theatre and don’t miss something truly Wunderbar.
5 stars. Standing ovation given.