Fast-paced production is a wonder

By Barbara L. Fredricksen, Arts and Entertainment
Published March 2, 2008

From left, Ben Simpson, Jillanne Galter, Bo Price and Tyler Fish perform in the musical "Kiss Me, Kate," at the Show Palace Dinner Theatre.
	[Bud Thacker | Special to the Times]

Take a deep breath, dear people, because the Show Palace Dinner Theatre's version of Kiss Me, Kate will leave you breathless.

From Act 1'sAnother Op'nin, Another Show to Act 2's opener, the beyond-high energy Too Darn Hot, the dancing is fast, intricate and amazing.

In fact, everything in this wonderful show goes so quickly, you hardly realize you've been sitting there for three hours with only one break.

Credit goes to a stellar, perfectly chosen cast, brilliant direction by Katie Kerwin and terrific sets and lights by Tom Hansen.

Kerwin and crew strike just the right tone for what can be an annoyingly misogynistic musical. Instead of following the tenor of Shakespeare's woman-bashing Taming of the Shrew upon which the show is based, Kerwin guides this Kate to be her own woman right to the end and this Petruchio to like her that way.

It's a tricky business, but leads Jan Leigh Herndon (Lilli/Kate) and W.C. Green (Fred/Petruchio) put precisely the right spin on their characters, capping delightful performances with a perfectly executed, totally satisfying ending.

Herndon plays stage and screen star Lilli Vanessi, who has joined her ex-husband Fred Graham's struggling acting troupe to do a musical version of Shrew. Their battles offstage reflect those of their characters onstage and go over the top when Lilli realizes that the flowers she thought Fred had sent her were meant for a chorus girl.

Herndon's flaming red hair matches Lilli/Kate's flaming red temper. Green's good looks are essential to Fred/Petruchio's oversized ego.

Herndon is the rare actor who can appear glamorous enough for the cover of Vogue magazine one moment and wacky enough to be a baggy-pants vaudeville comic the next. What a wonderfully expressive face and terrific physical humor.

Green has three personas in this show: the egotistical theater producer Fred, the buffoonish Petruchio and the man who really loves Lilli - and Green makes all three seem genuine.

Both of the leads are blessed with wonderful voices perfectly suited to their characters. Herndon's softly sentimental So In Love is touching and her angry, growling I Hate Men a hoot; Green's Where Is the Life That Late I Led? a laugh and a half and reprise of So In Love a mellow, remorseful plaint.

Show Palace newcomer Jillanne Galter is an adorable Lois/Bianca, the offstage good-time girl whose onstage role is that of a pious maiden. Galter's big eyes and pretty face could charm anyone. Show Palace veteran Tyler Fish gets to show his dancing and singing chops as Lois' main squeeze, Bill/Lucentio.

Show Palace favorite Troy LaFon handles the featured role of Ralph, the stage manager, with verve and enthusiasm. And Matthew McGee and Doug Neville deftly steal their scenes as two thugs who hang around to collect Bill's gambling debts but become stage hams when they accidentally get the spotlight in Brush Up Your Shakespeare.

Bob Wells is just right as Harry, the actor who plays the befuddled Baptista, father of Kate and Bianca. Rick Kishner does a grand, pipe-chomping Gen. Harrison Howell, a send-up of the late Gen. Douglas MacArthur, but his jokes about Truman, Dewey and "good Republican cloth coats" seemed to sail right over the heads of the strangely subdued opening night audience.

If you go:

Kiss Me, Kate continues matinees and evenings at the Show Palace Dinner Theatre, 16128 U.S. 19, Hudson. Dinner and show, $44; show only, $32.95; ages 12 and younger, $26.45 and $21.45, all plus tax and tip. Call (727) 863-7949 in west Pasco; toll-free elsewhere at 1-888-655-7469.

[Last modified March 1, 2008, 20:25:32]