Kiss Me Kate - Barbican / Cinema Release

Trafalgar Releasing will release this - probably early next year.

Saw this on Thursday evening and have somewhat mixed feelings. I actually really enjoyed Adrian Dunbar, I thought his acting was great and his voice when he was singing alone was enjoyable, it was just when he was singing with the rest of the cast (particularly SJB) that the skill difference became unfortunately unignorable. Their chemistry during the straight acting scenes was excellent though. Georgina Onuorah was absolutely wonderful, she plays her characters with so much humour and charisma and her voice is excellent. And then of course there’s Stephanie J Block who I can’t believe only has one Tony. The show itself is a little ‘meh’ in my opinion, and I wouldn’t see it again, but it was great entertainment and I don’t regret having gone.

iwanttix We go to see quite a lot at the Barbican theatre. There is something really special about how all the doors (one for each row of seats) shut just before the performance starts. It's almost like an overture.

Saw this end of August, disagree with most that was singled out here. Adrian Dunbar was ok, only his last big number was more spoken than sung, this would have been better with a singer. Set was fine, the usual set for a backstage show. Disliked the simply painted Italian set much more. Disappointed by SJB after all the praise here, comparing her to Sutton Foster a few years ago, I know who I would call a Broadway star. Bit disappointed by the gangsters, especially the song, expected more. What Charlie Stemp had to do was laughable. Very mixed experience. 3/5

I went into this one with quite low expectations after seeing some mixed reviews on here but was incredibly surprised. Adrian Dunbar was passable as a vocalist but played a good role as an actor, SJB was predictably fantastic, and the gangsters stole the show with comic timing. I found the set to be utterly charming, making excellent use of the revolve to create pace and dynamism, and the somewhat naff Italian backdrops created deliberate contrast for the play-within-a-play scenes from the more detailed and period appropriate backstage scenes.
Admittedly I am heavily biased in favour of pre-1970 shows so love a big golden age revival, but this one absolutely landed for me. Here's hoping for a re-run next year!

I had a ticket for the last performance of KMK and a last minute family commitment prevented me going - gutted. Had seen "Anything Goes" twice two years ago so am very intrigued by the mix of reviews on here.

I admit to my shame I knew nothing of the KMK plot, except a misdirection from years ago it's a musical version of The Taming Of The Shrew, which never intrigued me. So to lick my wounds I watched the 1953 movie last night.

This show is marketed (and I mean all its productions) so differently from what it actually is. I thought the movie and numbers were incredible. It's closer in tone to Mel Brooks "The Producers" which it preceded by decades than any Shakespearian retread. "Opening Night" from The Producers is quite literally a copy of "Another Openin' Another Show".

Someone here posted the "sp@nking" scene is not in the Barbican version. Having only seen this musical/movie for the first time last night, it seems pivotal to the plot as that's the point we have sympathy for Lili/Kate. If they excised that scene from the stage version, the plot would turn into a very different beast. Dunbar is very charming but wouldn't have the menace or greasy suaveness on display by Howard Keel. He would however definitely appeal to an older post-Covid audience who would be happy to venture to the theatre to a safe show featuring a safe face from the TV.

Looking forward to the cinema release or Sky Arts broadcast as I am crushed I didn't hear these bangers played live!

Crazy quick turnaround!! (Are you listening, N2N producers??)

That’s me not going to the cinema for it then!