Kiss Me Kate - Barbican / Cinema Release

Who is his understudy?

Is Charlie back on?

Saw this today and was pleasantly surprised after seeing some reviews here! Also thought Adrian did a great job?

One question that I’m not sure if it’s been answered: how did they get Stephanie to come over to do this!?

Money

She's also worked with Bart before, and it's a big production of a role she won't get to play in a big way in America before she's too old to do it.

I have only just got round to seeing this as I was reluctant given mixed reviews but was encouraged by great value offer. Overall I enjoyed it but much of it seemed to lack zip. ‘Always true to you’ and the gangsters were great. I really don’t like ‘It’s too darn hot’ but this version really won me over with its slow introduction and build up..

I’m completely on my own here but whilst I thought Block was fine, I didn’t find her overwhelmingly outstanding . Like so many, I was baffled by the casting of Dunbar. He didn’t seem up to the part either physically or vocally..

I am in complete agreement with the last paragraph above,

Absolutely ! It's almost "manipulative", in a good way, how well she sings this. It draws the audience in, desperate for more, and it doesn't disappoint ! I thought she was fantastic in Wizard of Oz and this is even better. 

Does anyone know if Stephanie does stage door after shows generally? Really not a usual lurker at one, however we all have our individual people and would love the opportunity to just say a quick hello/autograph if possible.

Amazing thank you!

Very enjoyable again this afternoon and I had the perfect seat (central and a few rows back - the angle is difficult from any further forward). Alex Lodge was on as Hortensio and did great.

It was a little warm for the first half, but thankfully the air conditioning kicked in properly.

The Barbican always tries to add confusion with other events, as well as having moved the toilets. Last time, I nearly ended up in the cannabis exhibition taking place. This time, London Met had a graduation, starting and ending at exactly the same time. I felt rather underdressed without a gown.

The Stalls ended up being pretty full, but I think that was due to some reseating. Some of the people around me may have preferred being in the less visible levels. There was a Chinese group in front and one guy just could not stay off his phone. The usual women behind who insisted on repeating lines and giving their opinion. I mostly managed to filter everyone else out.

So, perfect seat, brilliant cast, I even got a good stare from the rather dashing secret service agent (hopefully I haven’t accidentally upset him). I know there’s discussion about if the title number of Hello Dolly should have a standing ovation, but Too Darn Hot here really should have one. Faultless.

A rather disjointed show punctuated by some exceptional moments, Kiss Me Kate is ultimately less than a sum of its parts. In years to come, my abiding memory of this production will be the spine-tinglingly executed ‘Too Darn Hot’. That was a genuine masterclass of choreography. Well done, Anthony van Laast.

But the problem is that it felt so out of place that it almost may well have been from a different show altogether. It brought an intensity that seemed lacking throughout the rest of this production. However, other ensemble numbers - such as ‘Another Op’nin, Another Show’ - were also enjoyable moments.

Stephanie J Block was a star and worth the admission fee alone. She made Lilli the centre of everything and her vocal performance was second to none. Adrian Dunbar as Fred gave a pretty good comedy turn and his voice actually held up, although the imbalance with Block’s own abilities was laid bare at several moments.

The rest of the cast did a solid job but it was disappointing to see the likes of Charlie Stemp and Georgina Onuorah in such insignificant roles, given their undeniable talents. But Onuorah (playing Lois) did give a show-stopping moment with ‘Always True to You in My Fashion’ in Act Two. The gangsters’ rendition of ‘Brush Up Your Shakespeare’ also went down well with the audience.

As I say, you will find gems if you dip in and out of this show. But the book soon becomes tiresome and the play within a play more than tedious. Perhaps that is on me; I dislike Shakespeare’s plays, in general. However, the stark chasm in quality compared to Cole Porter’s other works is pretty clear to me.

Michael Yeargan’s set design on the revolve was a triumph and really came into its own during ‘Too Darn Hot’. I only wish they had used more of the upstairs space for more than just balconies.

Kiss Me, Kate is a bit of an odd, muddled show but has enough highlights at regular junctures to justify a visit to see it. Once you can find the labyrinth that is the Barbican, the theatre itself and eventually your seat, that is.

Three stars.