Kiss Me, Kate - Sheffield Crucible

TallPaul
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Kiss Me, Kate - Sheffield Crucible Jan 2, 2019 18:14:51 GMT via mobile

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Post by TallPaul on Jan 2, 2019 18:14:51 GMT

Well, I thought this was an excellent production of a less than perfect musical, with an anti-climatic ending.

I could have done without all the Shakespeare nonsense, and would the General's song really be missed, along with one or two others, but the three hours genuinely only felt like 2. Perhaps being so close to the action helped?

I loved the drawn-out opening numbers of both acts. Can someone more learned than I please tell me if that is usual, or is it a directorial decision for this production? And Amy Ellen Richardson is now my second most favourite actress, after Natalie Dew, obvs.

If only my good friend Caiaphas was still a board member. He would have loved the young actor blowing his trumpet on stage!!!

And as I went to the very last performance in 2018, the cast wished us all a happy new year, which I thought was a lovely touch.

Interested in theatres as much as theatre, and business as much as show!

ptwest
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Kiss Me, Kate - Sheffield Crucible Jan 2, 2019 18:41:55 GMT via mobile TallPaul likes this

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Post by ptwest on Jan 2, 2019 18:41:55 GMT

Thoroughly enjoyed this today, superbly performed by a very talented cast.

ptwest
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Kiss Me, Kate - Sheffield Crucible Jan 2, 2019 20:10:16 GMT wickedgrin likes this

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Post by ptwest on Jan 2, 2019 20:10:16 GMT

Will add a bit more detail now: Crucible was almost full, but a very old audience who were appreciative without going overboard, although every comment I heard on the way out was positive particularly when discussing Rebecca Lock; quite rightly as she is excellent. The subject matter is a little problematic in this day and age but taken as a period piece it works well. In my head it felt more like a musical farce (as in genre, not a bad production). Overall, the energy and talent of the cast won out resulting in a very entertaining afternoon. The Crucible is a wonderful space for shows like this, every seat is close to the action giving a really intimate feel to the performance.

sf
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Kiss Me, Kate - Sheffield Crucible Jan 3, 2019 0:11:47 GMT wickedgrin likes this

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Post by sf on Jan 3, 2019 0:11:47 GMT

I was also there this afternoon. Rebecca Lock is absolutely wonderful, it's a very strong production, there are elements of the plot that - what's a delicate way to put this? - show us loudly and clearly how much the world has changed since 1948, and I really don't love this version of the book or the shoehorned-in From This Moment On. Or rather, I love the song and it doesn't belong in Kiss Me, Kate - and yes I know it was in the film. I do understand why people choose this version - the original book is overlong and slow-paced and REALLY needs trimming (the Opera North production, which presented the original book without any cuts and used David Charles Abell and Seann Alderking's critical edition of the score, ran 15 minutes longer than this one does, and this one has an extra song thrown in) - but it just needs trimming. It didn't need a wholesale rewrite, which is what it gets here, and the rewrites aren't improvements.

And having said that, most people aren't as geeky about this stuff as I am, and this IS a very good production indeed. I don't want to give the impression I didn't enjoy it, because I absolutely did - I just have (big) reservations about this version of the book.