Cappies Review of Kiss Me, Kate at Herndon High School
Fairfax County Public Schools students are talented actors, musicians, and visual artists. Many FCPS high schools participate in the Washington, D.C., chapter of the Critics and Awards Program for High School Theatre, otherwise known as the Cappies.
The Cappies is a program through which high school theater and journalism students are trained as critics, attend shows at other schools, write reviews, and publish those reviews in local newspapers. There are fifteen Cappies chapters across the United States and Canada.
Editor's Note: This review of Herndon High School's production of Kiss Me, Kate is written by Nhi Nguyen of Annandale High School.
Under the light of a lone streetlamp, the hustle and bustle of opening night commences in the dingy alleyways of Baltimore, as a song begins with the swish of a broom.
The musical Kiss Me, Kate was written by Bella and Samuel Spewack with music and lyrics by Cole Porter. Featuring a musical production of William Shakespeare's The Taming of the Shrew, the show premiered on Broadway in 1948, running for more than 1,000 performances.
After being reunited for a Baltimore production of The Taming of the Shrew, divorced couple Lilli Vanessi and Fred Graham remain at each other's throats. Hilarity ensues as they try to one-up each other's lives and as their personal affairs bleed onto the stage.
The musical featured a spunky cast of characters, at the forefront of which is the shrewd Lilli Vanessi (Hope Hill) and her brash ex-beau Fred Graham (Josh Wise). Hill embodied the brusque, headstrong nature of her character through her striking presence on stage, both as Lilli and Katharine. Hill's spasmodic movements in her fits of anger were juxtaposed by her languid, confident movements as she gloated to Fred. Hill demonstrated an incredible range in songs such as "So in Love" where she utilized a soaring soprano as well as a resonant chest voice. Wise's warm tenor and mannerisms added a dramatic flair to his Fred and Lucentio. Fred's interactions with Lilli showed a man who was just as volatile as the woman he still loved. Also seen was Fred's tenderness to Lilli even when Lilli mistakenly believed the flowers Fred had sent to Lois were for her.
Lois Lane (Chloe Brokesh) and Bill Calhoun (Will McClough) represented another bickering couple, caught up in their own entanglements. Brokesh represented Lois' flirty persona in her wild, carefree attentions to men.
Featuring a strong ensemble, numbers such as "Finale Act One (Kiss Me, Kate)" displayed the chemistry between the cast as they moved cohesively as a unit. Characters such as Gangster 1 (Andrew Landrum) and Gangster 2 (Bo Chatterjee) enhanced the light-hearted nature of the show with signature slapstick comedy.
Amidst the whirlwind romance of feuding actors, Herndon's tech captured the show's fast-paced 1940s just as well as the rustic charm of the Shakespearean world. For a seamless transition between the two worlds, Jefferson Escobar-Rivera and crew created distinct set pieces for easy transportation on and offstage. Baltimore, characterized by a minimal set, notably included a dingy dumpster alleyway behind Lilli and Fred's dressing rooms. The split nature of the dressing rooms themselves enabled characters to easily go between Lilli and Fred's rooms. Juxtaposing Baltimore's minimalism was the sprawling set of Padua, featuring Baptista's imposing tower and a staircase leading to a tavern balcony.
Costumes (Lauren Tucker and Livie Godfrey) and make-up (Olivia Prout) worked hand in hand to immerse the audience in the time period. Alongside victory suits and suspenders were pantaloons and sweeping gowns, notably Katharine's student-constructed dress.
Lighting (Emmy Tublin and Chloe Thompson) showcased the stage's marquee lights to enhance the showbiz spirit of the show, shining in numbers such as "Brush Up Your Shakespeare," further enhancing the gangsters' theatrics. Props (Amelie Aubouin) added comedic moments such as a descending pigeon that disappeared in a burst of feathers after Gangster 1's fatal shot.
Student Assistant Director Jenna Ainge directed the gangster scenes as well as intimacy coaching between Lilli and Fred, leading to scenes that were noticeably well-executed.
With all the drama and intrigue of a soap operetta, Herndon's Kiss Me, Kate was a bodacious romp that drew its audience in with charming characters and impressive technical elements.
