The reviews for Kiss Me Kate are in, and the critics appreciate this Cole Porter classic for the wondrous Kelli O’Hara as Kate and intelligent updates that replace some of the piece’s misogyny with some much needed #metoo. First thing’s first – Kelli O’Hara shines as her own brand of Lilli (the reviewers even note a bit of longing when she’s left offstage too long in Act 2) and Will Chase is a terrific counterpart as Fred. Between their performances, thoughtful adjustments to the text, and “additional materials” by Amanda Green, this Kiss Me Kate is pleasant and enjoyable. It may not be perfect, but at least it feels right for 2019.
NEW YORK TIMES REVIEW OF KISS ME, KATE
I raise all this marital prehistory not to excuse the elements of the original “Kiss Me, Kate” that rankle our sensibilities today — its gender stereotypes and wife-slapping argument for womanly submission — but to suggest how the latest Broadway revival, which opened on Thursday in a production starring the…
DEADLINE REVIEW OF KISS ME, KATE
For me, the production takes full flight with “I Hate Men,” about midway through the first act, when O’Hara (as Lilli as Shrew‘s Kate) delivers a full throated and beautifully arch takedown of what later generations would simply call patriarchy. “Kate” delivers this song with utter conviction – no sense of the…
VARIETY REVIEW OF KISS ME, KATE
The clever navigation of this Golden Age musical through today’s waters of gender politics is one of several plusses in an otherwise uneven production that is still able to score some highs in terrific dancing, Kelli O’Hara’s performance and, oh, those Porter songs…
HOLLYWOOD REPORTER REVIEW OF KISS ME, KATE
But this is an immensely pleasurable show even in a production that occasionally lacks spark. The enjoyment is enhanced by David Rockwell’s sets, from the backstage area and dressing rooms to the old-fashioned painted flats and backcloths of the Baltimore run; by Jeff Mahshie’s colorful costumes, with some…
ENTERTAINMENT WEEKLY REVIEW OF KISS ME, KATE
That’s just one of the smart shifts Ellis and company have made with this fresh Kiss Me, Kate. Gone is the shiny schmaltz of the Golden Age musical’s previous productions, Ellis instead grounding the piece, when necessary, in sincerity and reality. “Another Op’nin’, Another Show”, led by Adrienne Walker’s…
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