Shakespeare’s birthday

REVIEW:  Get swept off your feet by Hingham Civic Music Theatre’s ‘Kiss Me Kate’

Posted on by The Sleepless Critic

‘But for my bonny Kate, she must with me.’

Set in Baltimore, love and show business collide in more ways than one in the Cole Porter musical, Kiss Me Kate.  A Shakespeare play within a musical with plenty of backstage drama, David Daly as Fred/Petruchio and Sara Daly as Lilli/Katherine shine portraying exes onstage, but they are married in real life.

Sara and Dave Daly and Steve Dooner in ‘Kiss me Kate’ Photo by Pat Sherman

Well timed shortly after Shakespeare’s birthday and shrewdly directed by Steve Dooner, Hingham Civic Music Theatre continues the Cole Porter romantic comedy musical, Kiss Me Kate live and in person at the Sanborn Auditorium at the Hingham Town Hall in Hingham, Massachusetts through Sunday, May 4.  Click here for more information and for tickets.

Justin Maloney and Joel Leonard in Hingham Civic Music Theatre’s ‘Kiss Me Kate’ Photo by Pat Sherman

Musically directed by Sandee Brayton with exuberant choreography by Diana Byrne Gossard, this enchanting musical is approximately 2 hours and 30 minutes with one intermission.  Hingham Civic Music Theatre has dedicated their season to the memory of Violet (Vi) Villani.

Sara and Dave Daly in Hingham Civic Music Theatre’s ‘Kiss Me Kate’ Photo by Pat Sherman

When a literary and music genius join forces, a Golden Age musical is born.  Kiss Me Kate boasts memorable Cole Porter classic tunes such as So in Love, Too Damn Hot, Wunderbar and Brush Up Your Shakespeare while infusing elements of Shakespeare’s Taming of the Shrew to create a romantic comedy for the ages.  Cole Porter’s music often reflects a jazz and bluesy feel as demonstrated in this play within a play’s self aware opening number, Another Opening/Another Show.

Kate Emily Crosta and Andy Gossard in Hingham Civic Music Theatre’s ‘Kiss Me Kate’ Photo by Pat Sherman

Playful, charming, and imaginative, Kiss Me Kate tells the story of director, producer and star of Taming of the Shrew Fred, portrayed by David Daly, who is working with ex-wife Lilli, depicted by Sara Daly, a fading Hollywood star reluctantly turning to theatre and co-starring in his production.  Lilli is engaged to systematic and orderly General Harrison Howell, portrayed by Andy Gossard who seems to relish the role.  I’ve always considered Katherine in Taming of the Shrew a woman ahead of her time and Sara impressively takes on this dual role as Lilli and Katherine as headstrong and fearless women with minds of their own.  David brings lots of charm and earnestness to his dual role as Fred and Petruchio.  Boasting soaring vocals, it is delightful to watch David and Sara who share great chemistry onstage.  They perform a lovely and intense duet of Wunderbar and deliver sweet renditions of So in Love.

Emily Crosta and Justin Maloney in Hingham Civic Music Theatre ‘Kiss Me Kate’ Photo by Pat Sherman

Another adorable couple who make melodious harmony together is Justin Maloney as Bill/Lucentio and Emily Crosta as Lois Lane/Bianca. Maloney as Bill and Crosta as Lois make a captivating pair delivering a couple of coy and lighthearted duets including Why Can’t You Behave and Always True to You in My Fashion, the latter especially flirty and entertaining.  Fred, Lilli, Bill and Lois collaborate for a humorous rendition of the upbeat classic, We Open in Venice.

Dave and Sara Daly, Justin Maloney and Emily Crosta in ‘We Open in Venice’ in Hingham Civic Music Theatre ‘Kiss Me Kate’ Photo by Pat Sherman

Also offering some scene stealing comic relief are Brendan Smith and Connor O’Brien as the Two Men.  Tough and goofy with a hilarious strut in top hats and canes, these sharply dressed men perform a knowing Brush Up Your Shakespeare, advising the audience how to use Shakespeare to woo women.

Brendan Smith and Connor O’Brien in Hingham Civic Music Theatre’s ‘Kiss Me Kate’ Photo by Pat Sherman

Costume designer Ashley Buckeridge skillfully blends period pieces such as classic Juliet and romantic Renaissance attire in delicate patterns to the iconic post World War II era making a splash in coordinated polka dots, lace, silk, button down trousers and brimmed hats.

John Crampton and cast in Hingham Civic Music Theatre’s ‘Kiss me Kate’ Photo by Pat Sherman

From tap to traditional renaissance to swing dancing, Diane Byrne Gossard’s joyful and lively choreography is a particular highlight as John Crampton as smooth Paul leads a playful rendition with this enthusiastic cast in a whistling and horn-infused number, Too Damn Hot.   

Hingham Civic Music Theatre’s ‘Kiss me Kate’ cast Photo by Pat Sherman

Kiss Me Kate delves into a number of romantic high jinks including the war of the sexes and it is fascinating to see this topic resonate from the Renaissance to Post War II era to today with spirited flair.

John Crampton and Madison Pratt in Hingham Civic Music Theatre’s ‘Kiss Me Kate’ Photo by Pat Sherman

Hingham Civic Music Theatre continues the Cole Porter romantic comedy musical, Kiss Me Kate live and in person at Hingham Town Hall in Hingham, Massachusetts through Sunday, May 4.  Click here for more information and for tickets.

REVIEW:  Actors’ Shakespeare Project envisions a wildly mischievous ‘A Midsummer Night’s Dream’

Posted on by The Sleepless Critic

It may not be the lusty month of May yet, but Actors’ Shakespeare Project’s contemporary A Midsummer Night’s Dream has it covered by the time it arrives.  This is one wild ride.

It is not difficult to see why A Midsummer Night’s Dream is one of Shakespeare’s most performed and beloved plays.  It is everything but tragic and can be interpreted in a variety of ways.  It features magic, mischief, romantic comedy, action, and it was a perfect way to celebrate Shakespeare’s birthday on April 23.

Eliza Fichter and Dan Garcia in ASP’s ‘A Midsummer Night’s Dream’ Photo by Nile Scott Studios

With bold direction by Maurice Emmanuel Parent, Actors’ Shakespeare Project continues A Midsummer Night’s Dream live and in person through Sunday, May 4 at the Mosesian Center for the Arts in Watertown, Massachusetts. The show’s action is not limited to the stage with two platforms immersed in the audience and runs 1 hour and 40 minutes with no intermission. Discounted tickets are available.  Click here for more information and for tickets.

The Cast of Actors’ Shakespeare Project’s ‘A Midsummer Night’s Dream’ Photo by Nile Scott Studios

A Midsummer Night’s Dream has multiple story lines, but the cast translates Shakespeare’s work with a lively affinity for the text with some improvisation and pop culture references along the way.  Part play within a play, part fantasy, and part comedy, A Midsummer Night’s Dream essentially explores love in all of its forms from unrequited to desire to true love to romantic comedy gone awry due to some mystical love potions.  A Midsummer Night’s Dream is also the source of some of Shakespeare’s most famous reflections on love such as ‘True love does not see with the eyes, but the mind’ and ‘The course of true love never did run smooth.’  Shakespeare’s witty dialogue is an intriguing reminder that his classic story lines can translate seamlessly into a wide variety of contemporary scenarios.

Kody Grassett, Doug Lockwood, and Bobbie Steinbach in ASP’s ‘A Midsummer Night’s Dream’ Photo by Nile Scott Studios

Scenic designer Ben Lieberson’s multilevel and industrial scaffolding not only provides a club atmosphere, but a somewhat blank canvas for lighting designer Brian Lilienthal’s multicolored illumination as a glimmering disco ball hangs overhead. Seth Bodie’s distinctive costumes feature a wide array of 90s and turn of the century looks from refined to over the top in splashy, glimmering, feathered and suggestive club wear to edgy street attire in fringe, pleather and denim to lavish upscale suits.  Sound designer MacKenzie Adamick also sets a 90s and 2000s vibe with a mix of original and popular club beats for both comic relief and setting the scene.  

ia Giatrelis, Eliza Fichter, Evan Taylor, Doug Lockwood, and Kody Grassett in ASP’s ‘A Midsummer Night’s Dream’ Photo by Nile Scott Studios

Coy, bold, and chock full of passion, Shakespeare’s A Midsummer Night’s Dream establishes a world of status and fantasy featuring a cast of powerful and absorbing characters determined to fight for what they want and aren’t shy about absurdity demonstrated by Doug Lockwood as the enthusiastic and bombastic Nick Bottom along with Bobbie Steinbach as resourceful Quince and a group of madcap and dedicated mechanicals offer more than silly humor before the final curtain. 

Bobbie Steinbach and The Mechanicals in ASP’s ‘A Midsummer Night’s Dream’ Photo by Nile Scott Studios

These mature characters are tougher and have experienced life’s hardships which is a valuable attribute for love is fickle.  Michael Broadhurst as Lysander may seem sweet and adoring sharing an endearing chemistry with Thomika Marie Bridwell as Hermia, but Broadhurst also has a chance to explore another side of this character.  Athletic Alan Kuang is remarkable as wild, mischievous, and break dancing Puck and his conspiring moments with Dan Garcia as Oberon make for street savvy and cunning pair.

Thomika Marie Bridwell and De’Lon Grant in ASP’s ‘A Midsummer Night’s Dream’ Photo by Nile Scott Studios

The women in this production are strong, beautiful, and fierce. Eliza Fichter takes on dual roles as powerful Hippolyta as well as glamorous and seductive Titania.  Thomika Marie Bridwell is wonderful as headstrong, comically tough and fearless Hermia while Deb Martin is a scene stealer and redefines crazy in love wild eyed Helena. Martin’s physical comedic prowess and the arduous lengths she goes through to get what she wants would be inspiring if she was not so unhinged and she shares some madcap moments with De’Lon Grant as impulsive Demetrius.  However, one intense scene between Martin and Bridwell going head to head becomes so hilarious and well executed that it stands as my favorite scene in this production. 

De’Lon Grant and Deb Martin in ASP’s ‘A Midsummer Night’s Dream’ Photo by Nile Scott Studios

One of the liveliest adaptations I’ve ever seen, Actors’ Shakespeare Project continues A Midsummer Night’s Dream live and in person through Sunday, May 4 at the Mosesian Center for the Arts in Watertown, Massachusetts Click here for more information and for tickets.