Matthew Moross calls Kiss Me Kate “a scorching good time” in his review for The Daily Gazette
“Kiss Me Kate is a must-see”
“Axtell and Lustig are superb. Axtell’s rich baritone sails through “Were Thine That Special Face” with glorious color while Lustig offers a very lovely, wistful take on “So in Love.” Together the pair are wonderfully dynamic in the playful shared memory of “Wunderbar.””
“Filled with youthful energy, the production is sprightly directed by Erin Spears Ledford and well-choreographed by Bryan Knowlton.”
“There are many moments to praise and point out. There is Lucy Rhoades as the simmering sexpot Bianca, nailing Porter’s classic “Always True to You Darlin’ in my Fashion.”
“Harrison Asher Smith as Bill Calhoun, who is just one of the objects of Bianca’s affection, who scores big with his character’s declaration of devotion, “Bianca.””
“And there is Jared Martin as Paul, who brilliantly leads the cast as they rip the roof off of the theater with the standout moment of the production, “Too Darn Hot,” at the top of Act 2. The staging, lighting and energy from the cast in just that number alone, is well worth the price of admission.”
“One of the best productions I have seen at Mac-Haydn in quite a while.”
J. Peter Bergman calls ‘Kiss Me, Kate’ “another triumph for the Mac-Haydn” in his review for The Berkshire Edge
“All of the principals have their motivations and director Erin Spears Ledford has used those
needs subliminally to make the show a more dynamic examination of love’s complications when
other needs are paramount. It works.”
“These well-defined characters live out their conflicts, both external and internal, on the Mac-Haydn stage and stop the show with their songs while they do it. All four actors perform their special material extremely well and that keeps the familiar songs inside the show where they belong.”
“Lustig’s classically trained voice sets off her ballads well and gives her that extra oomph she uses to make “Wunderbar” and “I Am Ashamed That Women Are So Simple” into extraordinary moments.”
“Axtell sings the difficult character list songs with a simplicity that seems next to impossible. His Petruchio is softer than many actors before him but this works for his Fred.”
“Others in the company who add to the show’s success are Nina Laing as Hattie, Jared Martin as Paul and Jordan Bunshaft and Jonah Hale as 1st and 2nd Man, those little gangsters who stop the show more than once with their comedy song “Brush Up Your Shakespeare.””
“Technically the company has put together a beautiful show. Bryan Knowlton’s complicated choreography is delightful. Music Director Emily Croome and her six musicians do well by Porter’s music. Daniel Hewson delivers excellent 1940’s costumes. Andrew Gmoser has provided excellent lighting design work as usual. Caitlin Maxwell’s hair design is perfectly period as well.”
“It literally has something for everybody: music, story, dialogue that takes you by storm, dancing that leaves you breathless. The company is as strong as the principals. It is another triumph for the Mac-Haydn.”
Trixie Starr calls ‘Kiss Me Kate’ stellar in her review for Trixie’s List
“I have always been amazed by the costumes at the Mac-Hadyn – Kiss Me, Kate is no exception. The colorful Italian Renaissance outfits were stunning, well-designed, and flawless. Even the actors’ wardrobes, wearing next-to-nothing, in “It’s Too Darn Hot” were perfect!”
“The performances by leading cast members, Meredith Lustig as Lilli Vanessi (Katherine) and Michael Axtell as Fred Graham (Petruchio) were stellar!”
“The young, scantily-clad performers are an absolute pleasure!”
Andrew Andrews says the production delivers in all elements in their review for Opplaud
“From its opening number (“Another Op’nin’, Another Show”) to it’s closing reprise (“Kiss Me, Kate”), this production delivers all of the spectacular song-and-dance that Mac-Haydn performances are known for.”
“Donning a thousand fine costumes over the course of the evening, the company is particularly entertaining when the lot of them take the stage for the larger dance routines…”
“the performance is delightful…”
“with vocals by Meredith Lustig (Vanessi) and the footwork during “Tom, Dick or Harry” (Lucy Rhoades, Harrison Asher Smith, Troy Wheeler and Patrick MacLennan) especially standing out.”
“Watching the choreography of “Too Darn Hot,” also, was too damn fun…”
“the cast and crew delivered all of the pleasure and professionalism that I’ve come to expect from a presentation at the Mac-Haydn, and I can hardly wait to return in a few weeks for their regional premiere of Next to Normal.”
Macey Levin says Kiss Me Kate is “terrific” in his review for Berkshire On Stage
“The songs are pleasantly sung and the choreography by Bryan Knowlton is brisk and rollicking.”
“Lustig as Lilli has a beautiful voice which serves her and the production well especially for “So in Love.” Her acting is both expressive and subtle lending varying levels to her character.”
“Rhoades and Smith add immeasurably with their voices, comic timing and dancing as seen in “Why Can’t You Behave.””
“The various sets designed by Erin Kiernan are brilliant, especially the one for Shrew. The transformation from the backstage scenes to the set for Shrew, given the amount of set pieces that have to be removed and setting up the new set, takes only seconds maintaining the momentum. Andrew Gmoser’s lighting complements the spirit of the show. The seven-piece orchestra led by Emily Croome brings life to the myriad musical numbers.”
“Mac-Haydn does terrific work and this is a terrific show, especially to introduce younger audiences to a true American classic.”