RECOMMENDED
It’s time to “Brush Up Your Shakespeare” in grand style with all of the trimmings thanks to Light Opera Works’ spectacular production of this Cole Porter backstage musical that includes his best score and most erudite lyrics. And though the work itself is now sixty years old, coming after a long silence and even some flops at the end of Porter’s long career and only taken on because of tax problems, he pulled out all of the stops for it and was able to succinctly sum up in a single work all that his art had developed into over decades as the top tunesmith of both Broadway and Hollywood. Most productions tend to either concentrate on the work’s gut-busting comedy, as the most recent Broadway revival did to great success, or the sumptuous score, as do the many productions mounted regularly by opera companies, but it is a rare production that can pull off both: this Light Opera Works production, however, has it all. Kudos to the luxurious casting of superb soprano Stacey Tappen as actress Lilli Vanessi, who not only can break your heart when she sings “So in Love” in clarion tones, but as Katherine in Porter’s mock musical adaptation of Shakespeare’s “The Taming of the Shrew,” can bring off riotous resentment, comedy and sight gags in “I Hate Men.” Those who can really sing this role can rarely pull off its physical comedy, and those who can usually end up compromising its musical demands, but Tappen brings off both to great avail. Larry Adams is the perfect foil for Tappen as her ex-husband, current director, sparring partner and co-star in “Shrew,” able to be poignant, conniving and ever so delightfully overripe as an actor too full of himself. Light Opera Works’ artistic director Rudy Hogenmiller wisely lets the work itself call all of the shots and gets out of its way as its director and choreographer and LOW music director is having a ball in the pit savoring every carefully crafted note and gag. So will you. (Dennis Polkow)
“Kiss Me, Kate” runs at Northwestern University’s Cahn Auditorium, 600 Emerson, Evanston, (847)869-6300, through June 10. $28-$80.
Related Stories
Bad Romance: A Review of Never Mind, It's Nothing at Chicago Slam Works “Never Mind, It’s Nothing,” Chicago Slam Works' Valentine’s Day farce, has such a cynical view of love that it’s hard to enjoy. Despite its sex-positive attitude and small-dose appreciation for committed relationships, the show rings through with bitterness as its central story (a Mardi Gras-themed divorce party) makes clear. But as the show scrambles back and forth between scenes of…
Two New Works by Two Top Artists RECOMMENDED After resounding success with the reboot of "Art of Falling," their evening-length collaboration with the Second City, Hubbard Street Dance returns to its bread and butter—edgy, innovative repertory—for their Fall Series at the Harris Theater November 17-20. At the center of the program are two choreographers who have graduated from "rising" to "top" in the contemporary dance world. One…
The Light Going Out: A Review of 33 to Nothing at A Red Orchid Theatre This music/theater hybrid from A Red Orchid takes some creative risks but reinforces some tired stereotypes in the process.
The Fuckening: A Review of The Light Fantastic at Jackalope Theatre Like the best of the horror genre, the newest play from Ike Holter, in its world premiere at Jackalope Theatre, is equal part scares and scathing social commentary.
Light the Way RECOMMENDED Third Eye Theatre Ensemble continues an exploration of mothers in “operatic” situations and the ways in which their circumstances shape the lives of their children. With its production of composer Nico Muhly’s “Dark Sisters," the company completes a trilogy begun with its inaugural 2014 production of “The Medium” followed by “Sumeida’s Song” in 2015. “Dark Sisters” tells a tale…
From Darkness to Light: A Review of Visceral Dance's TAKE at The Space at Rockwell A showcase for the talents of a gifted ensemble, but also of an experimental spirit, a willingness to place dancers who perform on the Harris stage in more raw contexts.
