| There are many pleasures here, not least of which is watching Kelli O'Hara, a normally quiet and emotionally translucent performer, go broad. This material isn't a natural fit for her, at least not the book scenes, but she's game and spirited; she's got pluck. And musically, she's impeccable as always. KISS ME, KATE has a number of showstoppers, but the biggest is O'Hara singing "So In Love"; she stops your heart. Beyond this, the show is very nicely done. It moves along--the choreography is scattershot but bright--and it's funny. These days, this material could be cringe worthy, but all that's shopworn about it is handled deftly, which is to say lightly, here. If O'Hara isn't an altogether convincing "shrew," neither is she a compelling lackey which is helpful. Thus the show's final moments are, like those in the recent production of MY FAIR LADY, recalibrated in an interesting and, in this cultural moment, arguably fitting way. |
