WSJ reviews "Kiss Me, Kate" Great Performances 2025

[MezzA101]

Posted: 5/30/25 at 1:57pm

https://www.wsj.com/arts-culture/television/kiss-me-kate-review-playing-with-cole-porter-on-pbs-0ea66b0c?st=Wz2n6o&reflink=mobilewebshare_permalink

[Jeffrey Karasarides]

Posted: 5/31/25 at 7:27am

I caught it on PBS last night. As a longtime fan of director Bartlett Sher’s musical revivals, I was curious to see him take on Kiss Me, Kate. What I loved about his interpretations of South Pacific, The King & I, Fiddler on the Roof, and My Fair Lady is that on the outside, he gave them such big, lavish presentations. But on the inside, he treated the material with respect while also successfully approaching them with more modern sensibilities.

With this one in particular, it’s more of a full fledged comedy and not as weighty as what he’s taken on before. Although he still puts on this 76-year-old musical and presents it in a way that doesn’t make it feel dated at all. All of the designs are elegant with Michael Yeargan’s set being the standout. The musical numbers are a ton of fun. Everyone in the cast gives great performances, especially Stephanie J. Block.

[binau]

Posted: 5/31/25 at 9:19am

Any thoughts on how this compares to the 2019 roundabout revival? I haven't really wanted to look into it because I'm happy to keep those memories. 

[merle57]

Posted: 5/31/25 at 10:36am

Bart Sher's production of Kiss Me, Kate very successfully breathed life into a somewhat dated classic. His Lilli brought so much nuance into her conflicted feelings for Fred. The use of the revolving stage was particularly effective in highlighting the onstage-backstage conflict, especially when Lilli storms off stage after he threatens her physically in the Taming of the Shrew scene. She handled the sexism of the original well in a speech Fred addresses to the show-within-a-show audience. the gangsters were hilarious. The dancing was very strong, more modernized than the 1998 revival. I did miss Brian Stokes Mitchell's resonant singing for Fred, but liked this actor's bemused interaction with Lilli in their scenes. There was always a sense that they both still loved each other, which became obvious when Sher had her overhear his reprise of So In Love -- a very nice directorial touch. Highly enjoyable, felt like an up to date musical, not a dated operetta which Kate can often seem like. 

[BentleyB]

Posted: 5/31/25 at 4:41pm

binau said: "Any thoughts on how this compares to the 2019 roundabout revival? I haven't really wanted to look into it because I'm happy to keep those memories."

I liked this much better than the revival.   I thought the revival was like stale toast to be honest.  It felt more like a museum piece than this did.  This seamed lively and I loved the set design.  

[nativenewyorker2]

Posted: 5/31/25 at 9:59pm

Was there always a book scene/exposition before “Another Opening”? If I recall correctly, the song used to happen right after the overture