Back from the opening of Kiss Me, Kate - I'm probably going to be circumspect in the notes, but I'll just say it was a completely misbegotten production in every possible way. Yes, everyone's friends cheered and hollered like they were watching American Idol, but there were almost no laughs at all - and this show has a great book. Mediocre casting throughout - the Kate was okay and Mr. Brady was way too laid back and doesn't really have the voice for this part. He seems personable, but not a good role for him - that and a very unfortunate wig. But for me the worst of it was the puny band of about eight, heavy on the synth - along with some of the most mind-bogglingly awful arrangements and reorchestrations I have ever had the displeasure of hearing. Mr. Porter would have been turning over in his grave I can assure you, and right from the beginning with the Soul Train hideous arrangement of Another Op'nin, Another Show. It's fine to want to do a Black version of the show - so I'd be hard-pressed to understand two white gangsters and a white General. Also, some ill-advised "modern" lines have been added with big winks. Bad sets, so-so lighting and not so hot choreography. And SLOOOOOOOOW tempos. The show ran almost three hours with intermission, and that was after the twenty-five minutes of speechifying before the show began.
