past productions | news articles - Kiss Me Kate

MUSICAL HIT AT THE KING'S
The Glasgow Light Opera Company opened at the King's Theatre last night with Cole Porter's "Kiss Me Kate" - in aid of the Hansel Village, Symington.

This is a brittle, sophisticated musical with typically barbed and witty lyrics, catchy music and an intriguing "play - within - a - play" theme.

Fred and Lillie are divorced but are thrown together in a musical adaptation of Shakespear's "The Taming Of The Shrew," and the stormy passages in the play serve to pave the way for a reconciliation.

Ann Veitch as Lillie / Katherine and Allan McAllister as Fred / Petruchio were a suitably tempestuous pair of lovers. Margaret Henderson as Lois / Bianca displayed an Elizabeth Taylor - type beauty - and what's more, she could sing!

Jack Holmes and Gordon Crockert were a hilarious pair of gangsters and there was a nice sketch of doddering senility from Gordon Cochrane as Baptista.

Alex Wallace's choreography was vigorously interpreted by an enthusiastic chorus, and Roy Wilkie's production was kept moving at a smart pace.

D. McM.