**** Recommended **** Marriott Theatre’s new production of Kiss Me Kate is just plain wonderful. This 1948 backstage musical about a theater company doing The Taming of the Shrew has all the right elements – battling stars who also happen to be exes, bumbling gangsters who get hooked on Shakespeare, young lovers with issues, and fabulous songs by Cole Porter. Who would have thought that Porter and Shakespeare had anything in common? 4 BIG Spotlights
Fred Graham (Larry Adams) is directing, producing and starring as Petruchio in The Taming of the Shrew. He’s conned his ex-wife, Lilli Vanessi (Susan Moniz), to join the cast as Katharine by convincing her that he’s reformed. Lilli is sure that he’s chasing after a younger woman, Lois Lane (Alexandra Palkovic), who’s playing Bianca.
Lois’s boyfriend, Bill Calhoun (Daniel May), who’s playing Lucentio, missed the first rehearsal because he was gambling. When he finally turns up, he tells Lois that he signed Fred’s name to a $10,000 IOU.
Showing off a rock on her finger, Lilli told Fred she’s engaged. Driving the knife in further, she reminds him that it’s the anniversary of their divorce When they reminisce about their life together, they end up singing and dancing.
Gun Man/Philip (Shea Coffman and Gun Man/Nathaniel (Lillian Castillo) show up demanding that Fred pay his debt, but Fred said he never signed that IOU. They give him time to remember, saying they’ll be back.
When Lilli receives flowers from Fred – with a card addressed to Lois – she decides maybe he’s not such a bastard after all. He tries to get the card back but she puts it in her pocket to read later. When she finally reads the card, she’s furious, walks onstage and starts hitting Fred, who’s trying to stay in character. Meanwhile, Baptista (Bret Tuomi) gives Petruchio permission to marry Kate/Lilli who just keeps on hitting him.
Favorite numbers – Another Op’nin Another Show, Tom, Dick or Harry (sung by Bianca, who doesn’t care which one she marries) and I Hate Men.
At one point, the two gangsters get caught on stage and improvise a truly hilarious tribute to Shakespeare, singing Brush Up on Your Shakespeare.
Act II opens as the cast is relaxing outside the stage door at intermission. Paul (Jonathan Butler-Duplessis), Bill (May) and Hattie (Allison Blackwell) lead the cast in singing Too Darn Hot, a jazzy swing number. By the way, Paul and Hattie are the stars’ dressers.
Ralph (Iris Lieberman), the Stage Manager, tries to keep everyone on track and on time. Bianca’s other suitors are Hortensio/Cab Driver (Alejandro Fonseca) and Gremio (Alex Joseph Stewart). Lilli’s fiancé, General Harrison Howell (Terry Hamilton), is a little too fond of the ladies.
Kudos to the ensemble: Alejandro Fonseca, Iris Lieberman, Amanda Compton LoPresti, Maggie Malaney, Kevin Nietzel, Adam Rogers, Allison Sill, Dance Captain/Haberdasher (Laura Savage), 
Joseph Stewart, Richard Strimer and Trevor Vanderzee.
Note: Guests must show proof of vaccination before entering the theater. Guests are required to wear masks while inside the building.
Kiss Me Kate runs through January 16th at the Marriott Theatre, 10 Marriot Drive, Lincolnshire. Parking is free; valet parking is also available. Running time is 90 minutes, no intermission.
Performances are Wednesdays at 1:00 and 7:30 pm; Thursdays at 7:30 pm; Fridays at 8:00 pm; Saturdays at 4:00 and 8:00 pm; Sundays at 1:00 and 5:00 pm. There are a limited number of dinner-theatre packages available on Wednesdays and Thursdays. Tickets range from $50-$60. FYI (847) 634-0200, www.ticketmaster.com or www.marriotttheatre.com.