KISS ME KATE
The
John Wilson Orchestra at the Royal Albert Hall
BBC
Proms
02.08.14
Semi-staged
in name only, this was a show of West End proportions and outstanding
talents. A bigger stage than My Fair Lady in 2012, and a restored
version of the score, played with Wilson's trademark lush precision.
Including
so many dance sequences meant that we heard loads of orchestral
numbers, and saw some amazing choreography.
Too Darn Hot, for instance, with Jason Pennycooke, or Tony Yazbeck's
tireless “Bianca”
tap routine [as Calhoun/Lucentio].
The
Shrew herself was Broadway star Alexandra Silber, giving a bold,
sassy performance plenty big enough to fill this vast arena. Her
tamer was Ben Davis, suitably arrogant and self-regarding.
James
Docherty and Michael Jibson
were
the
“Brush Up Your Shakespeare” heavies, excellent in their menacing
adoration of Miss Vanessi, with a welcome gag about “like being on
the inside of a birthday cake”.
But,
as ever, the biggest pit band in captivity was the real star here,
with the dapper, enthusiastic Wilson relishing every note, every
encore, of Porter's rich, timeless score.
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