Kiss Me, Kate | Short Review
Julia Rank
Wednesday, June 19, 2024
The classic Cole Porter musical starring Stephanie J Block and Adrian Dunbar is currently playing at the Barbican Theatre in London
![Stephanie J Block with Adrian Dunbar (images credit: Johan Persson)](/media/250569/untitled-13.png?&width=780&quality=60)
Summer weather seems to have finally arrived, along with Bartlett Sher’s lavish production of Cole Porter’s backstage classic Kiss Me, Kate. Sher isn’t a director known for boldly revisionist interpretations of the classics and this show makes for a lovely evening, even if it is only fitfully scintillating.
Broadway diva Stephanie J Block is sheer class as Lilli Vanessi/Kate. Line of Duty star Adrian Dunbar is not wunderbar vocally or in terms of chemistry with Block, but he conveys the harassed actor-manager side of the character well. Current cover star Charlie Stemp and Georgina Onuorah bring plenty of pep as Bill Calhoun/Lucentio and Lois Lane/Bianca. And Jack Butterworth, leading ‘Too Darn Hot’, seems poised to be a future leading man.
Production credits
Kiss Me, Kate by Cole Porter (music, lyrics) and Sam and Bella Spewack (book)
Barbican Theatre, London, 8 June 2024
Starring Stephanie J Block, Adrian Dunbar, Charlie Stemp, Georgina Onuorah, Hammed Animashaun, Nigel Lindsay, Peter Davison, Josie Benson, Jack Butterworth et al
Directed by Bartlett Sher
Kiss Me, Kate runs until 14 September 2024 – for more information and tickets, visit kissmekatemusical.com
Read Julia Rank’s full review in our August/September issue, on sale 26 July 2024 – consider subscribing today!