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Kiss Me Kate at the Old Vic Theatre
Venue Information
Seating Tip!
The Old Vic Theatre is a traditionally built venue, with a large Stalls section and a deeply curved circle and upper circle. Best seats are towards the front of the balcony levels in order to take in this 32 strong cast.
Show Schedule and Audience
Matinees: Wednesday and Saturday 2.30pm
Evenings: Monday to Saturday 7.30pm
Running Time: To be confirmed when show opens
Booking Until: 2 March 2013
Audience:
Evenings: Monday to Saturday 7.30pm
Running Time: To be confirmed when show opens
Booking Until: 2 March 2013
Audience:
Families will love seeing this fun musical back in London. Musical theatre fans will enjoy seeing this backstage drama unfold, by one of the most successful companies in the West End at the moment. The Old Vic Theatre is a fantastic venue and a perfect setting for such a traditional show.
This show is not suitable for children under the age of 8 years old. Please note, those under the age of 5 will not be admitted.
Description
Director Trevor Nunn returns to London with a new production of Cole Porter’s classic musical, ‘Kiss Me, Kate’. After enjoying a successful run in Chichester, the Old Vic Theatre under the Artistic Directorship of Kevin Spacey presents this musical as part of their Winter 2012/13 season. The first musical to win the Tony Award for Best Musical, Kiss Me, Kate was Porter’s first attempt at a full book musical. Based on Shakespeare’s ‘The Taming of the Shrew’, the show features a play within a play, as a band of players are putting on a production of the Shakespeare original, but end up being drawn into more dramatic scenes off-stage where life begins to imitate art.
Featuring some of the most well known songs in the musical theatre repertoire, including ‘Too Darn Hot’, ‘So In Love’, ‘Always True to You in My Fashion’ and ‘Brush Up Your Shakespeare’, this musical provides laughs, exquisite dance numbers and outstanding direction by one of the country’s most esteemed musical theatre directors. Hannah Waddingham, who has recently stormed the West End with performances in ‘The Wizard of Oz’, ‘Into the Woods’ and ‘A Little Night Music’ plays Lilli Vanessi, and is joined by a hugely talented cast which includes Clive Rowe as one of the gangsters. This musical is only running for a limited season, and is expected to be very popular. Get your tickets now for this Winter gem.
Lead Characters
Fred Graham – The egotistical producer, director and star of the travelling band of players. He is constantly arguing with his ex-wife Lilli, who plays opposite him in The Taming of the Shrew. He sings ‘So in Love’.
Lilli Vanessi – Fred’s long suffering ex-wife. A movie star who is playing Kate in The Taming of The Shrew. She is jealous of the attention Fred pays to Lois throughout the show. She sings ‘Always True To You Darling in My Fashion’.
Lois Lane – The sexy younger actress who is starring as ‘Bianca’. She flirts with Fred, despite having a boyfriend in the company, who misses many rehearsals due to gambling.
Bill – Playing Lucentio. He suffers from a gambling problem, and signs an IOU in Fred’s name to get himself out of trouble.
Critics Reviews
"...for the most part, this three-hour evening simmers rather than boiling over..."
- Lyn Gardner, The Guardian
"Trevor Nunn’s slick and sassy musical is too darn hot."
- Fiona Mountford, Evening Standard
"Nights at the theatre don't come much more enjoyable than seeing Trevor Nunn’s revival of Kiss Me Kate at the Old Vic."
- Charles Spencer, The Daily Telegraph
Photos and Video
Awards
1949 Tony Awards: Best Musical, Best Book of a Musical, Best Original Score, Best Costume Design, Best Producer.
2000 Tony Awards: Best Revival, Best Performance by a Leading Actor, Best Director, Best Orchestrations, Best Costume Design.
Trivia & Insights
- The show includes a homage to contemporary writer Noel Coward, as Fred declares ‘women should be struck regularly, like gongs’ which is a reference to ‘Private Lives’.
- The show was the first musical to win the Best Musical award at the Tonys.
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