Cole Porter's dazzling musical comedy Kiss Me, Kate is an all-zinging, all-dancing show about love - or not - backstage at a production of Shakespeare's The Taming of the Shrew.
In a fantastic new production, Adrian Dunbar (Line of Duty) and Broadway royalty Stephanie J. Block (Into The Woods, The Cher Show) lead the cast alongside Charlie Stemp, Georgina Onuorah, Nigel Lindsay, Hammed Animashaun and Peter Davison.
The timeless songs, such as Brush Up Your Shakespeare, Too Darn Hot and Tom, Dick or Harry, pack a punch for all the family, especially as they'll feature a full orchestra performing the music.
‘Cole Porter is such a master’, says Onuorah, who plays Lois Lane. 'His music is such a gift to everyone - it's so timeless. And that's why it's stood the test of time.’
This role is one Onuorah relishes, she told us from rehearsals. ‘Lois is so much fun. She plays everyone; she pushes boundaries; she's very smart and knows what she wants. It's really fun playing a character like her.'
In the show, the characters are staging a production of The Taming of the Shrew - but it doesn't always go according to plan. Onuorah says she can relate to this, even as an experienced actor. ‘I was in a production of Oklahoma! at Wyndham's Theatre, and I forgot my line,’ she grimaces. ‘My brain just went blank. I had to just stop talking, recalibrate, and then carry on. But in your mind as an actor, when your mind goes blank it feels like years of silence.’
No doubt things will go much more smoothly than in the play-within-a-play as Kiss Me, Kate takes over our Theatre for the summer. And Onuorah says she's excited to perform on our stage. ‘I’ve never done a show at the Barbican before, but I saw Anything Goes here a few years ago and it was stunning. I'm so excited to get into the space and have a beautiful summer.’
Kiss Me, Kate 4 Jun-Sat 14 Sep, Theatre
Words by James Drury
