Kiss Me Kate, National Youth Music Theatre Review

`Sydney Richards (Lilli Vanessi)in Kiss Me Kate. Photo Tom Wren`

★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Reviewer - Samantha

*Disclaimer: Gifted tickets in return for an honest review

The story of Kiss Me, Kate is based on a musical version of William Shakespeare’s, The Taming of the Shrew and the love / hate relationship on and off stage between Fred Graham (Charlie Weaver) and leading lady who is also his ex-wife, Lilli Vanessi (Sydney Richards). There’s a secondary love story between Lois Lane (Charlie Jackson) and her gambler boyfriend, Bill (Joe Butler-Smith), who run afoul of some gangsters.

This musical premiered in 1948 and won the first Tony Award for Best Musical in 1949. Although I hadn’t come across Kiss Me, Kate before, I can definitely see why it won an award.

At first, I wasn’t sure what to expect because I wasn’t overly familiar with the story and the scenery was very simplistic. However, as soon as the vocals kicked in, I was hooked! It all worked so well for me. Interestingly, I have never seen off-stage actors still stood on the side of the stage floor before but in this instance, they are technically at the side of the stage because the other cast members are performing The Taming of the Shrew. I thought this was portrayed well and not at all distracting.

There are so many talented individuals in this production, but I must take my hat off to the three leads, Charlie Weaver, Sydney Richards and Charlie Jackson. Wow, both have an excellent pair of lungs. As I was watching Charlie as Fred Graham, he reminded but of someone, but I couldn’t think who it was and now I know, Henry Higgins from My Fair Lady. He was chaotic but full of energy, which worked due to Fred’s involvement in the show (director and producer).

`Charlie Weaver (Fred Graham) and cast. Photo Tom Wren`

I must also add that the two gangsters played by Raphael Goold and Georgie Lagden were excellent characters to have in this show. I laughed so many times and I was impressed with their entire performance because they maintained the Italian New York accent throughout. They both put their all into those characters and really brought the show to life. It was a twist I wasn’t expecting, and they filled the studio with their presence.

Although the whole show was brilliantly executed, there were two scenes that stood out to me the most because they were elegant and extremely well-choreographed. The two dance scenes with Lois Lane blew me away. I liked that some of the choreography was contemporary dance as well as ballet – in another scene, we had a small tap segment, which I loved.

In the first scene, we see three men fighting for Bianca’s (Charlie Jackson) hand in marriage (this was in the actual performance of The Taming of the Shrew), and it was a great scene. It was engaging because it was funny, and the choreography was quite clever. The song Tom, Dick or Harry was in reference to three men trying to woo Bianca, but they used all the space on stage to express their love for her and the dancing was in sync with the music. It was a polished performance.

During the wedding scene between Lois and Bill, I was encapsulated by how they were gliding across the floor like they were floating and the actress who played Lois looked like she was deeply in love by the way she was staring into Bill’s eyes, it was truly beautiful to watch. It felt very realistic.

`Raphael Goold (1st gangster) and Georgie Lagden (2nd gangster). Photo Tom Warren`

There are so many things I would like to say about this show, but I think I would be typing for a very long time. It was energetic, atmospheric, simplistic yet effective as well as comedic and witty. I genuinely felt proud of everyone performing and I do not know anyone personally in the cast. They went above and beyond what they needed to do in order to put on a good show.

You would not have known last night’s performance of Kiss Me, Kate was the first one of the week. There were a few mistakes, but the cast made it part of the performance and for them to do that without breaking character, I highly commend their professionalism.

This is the second show I have seen from National Youth Music Theatre and again, they did not disappoint. I will definitely be looking out for their next musical at The Curve or another venue in the Midlands.

Kiss Me, Kate is on at The Curve in Leicester until Saturday 12 August. You can buy your tickets from here.

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