"Kiss Me Kate" is Too Darn Hot to Miss

The Sixth Street Playhouse has been bursting onto the current theater scene with talent, creativity, and undeniable crowd-pleasers under its new Artistic Director Craig A. Miller.  Their latest production is a full-powered musical that took 15 Tony awards on Broadway.  Kiss Me, Kate is entertaining and clever, a huge production that would stand up to any off-Broadway competition.  But of course this is Santa Rosa, not New York, so the parking is free, the G. K Hardt Theatre seats are plush, excellent wine in the lobby is $6 and ticket prices are $15 to $35. 

Kiss Me, Kate is a classic fun-filled romp directed by Craig A. Miller, with an orchestra conducted by Janis Dunson Wilson.  The surprise of the production could be the fancy footwork choreographed by veteran Tony Ginachetta.  How can these "locals" look so professional?  The large cast shows off their dancing chops to Cole Porter's tunes, singing lyrics that bring individual charm to their characters.  Favorite songstress Daniela Innocenti Beem belts out the opening number and sets the bar high for a chorus of harmony.  The audience recognizes familiar refrains of Too Darn Hot, Another Openin' Another Show, Tom, Dick or Harry and Always True to You in my Fashion.  It's tough to keep your feet from tapping. 

The plot is a madcap "play within a play" based on William Shakespeare's timeless and chauvinistic The Taming of the Shrew.   An acting troupe has a leading man and leading lady who are bitter ex-spouses in real life.  Onstage, they must summon all their acting skills to carry off their roles.  The on-ups-manship and innuendos are hilarious, played with glee by Taylor Bartolucci and Barry Martin.  Their stage staffers, fellow actors, new love interests, and a couple of crazy gangsters bring depth and intrigue to the mayhem.  It's all about love, however and wherever it develops.

The stage sets revolve seamlessly, the costumes by Julia Kwitchoff are nostalgic and the direction is quick and on cue, giving the audience abundant entertainment.  The actors work well to deliver songs and laughs, including Jeremy Berrick, Kelsey Mielle Byrne, Henry Chazankin, Anya Chemiss, Rahman Dalrymple, Shari Hopkinson, April Krautner, Juliann Lorensen, Michael Lumb, Anthony Martinez, Joseph Miranda, Jesse Pennington, Jon Rathjen, Jocelyn Roddie, Sam Starr, and Dwayne Stincelli.  Don't miss it!

Playing at the Sixth Street Playhouse now until September 4th.  Tickets at (707) 523-4185 and at www.6thstreetplayhouse.com