Shakespeare times two in July

The Brandywiners mount their 79th season with “Kiss Me Kate'”, Cole Porter's greatest. A show within a show with the interior play being a musical based on The Bard's second greatest comedy, 'Taming of The Shrew”.
Written in 1948, it was Porter's response to the monumental shift in musical productions created by Rodgers and Hammerstein's “Oklahoma”, defined as the first 'integrated' musical, wherein songs and dances are immersed in a well conceived story with dramatic goals and able to evoke emotions other than laughter.
Unlike Gershwin and Berlin, poor Jewish boys from Hell's Kitchen who plied their wares for $.25 a day on Tin Pan Alley, Porter's grandfather owned a uranium mine and sent the scion to Yale. A remarkable bit of trivia about “KMK” is that Porter wrote the piece in excruciating pain from a horse riding accident that crushed his legs. Eventually, both would be lost.
Many of the same faces are back in major roles from last year's “Guys and Dolls”. Director Henry Porreca and Music Director Clint Williams helm the same stations. Debbie Hollingsworth Arnold, who starred in every show during her tenure at DE Children's Theatre, diverts from meek Salvation Army Sarah of last year to the shrewish Kate. Bob Miller, who originally purchased Candlelight Dinner Theatre from the O'Tooles, is the egomaniac Fred. Jeff Santoro, last year's lead, plays industrialist General Howell and sings a song that has nothing whatsoever to do with the plot. I've always felt Porter was obsessed in finding a play for “From This Moment On” and stuck it in “KMK” while the playwright wasn't looking.
Art Bookout as Bill and Erin Cates as Lois round out the supporting cast along with Ted Harting and Jim Conte as the malaprop twins who sing and dance a show stopper, “Brush Up Your Shakespeare.” Porter is my favorite lyricist wit.
From July 28. Admission includes Longwood Gardens. Thank you P.S. du Pont for building Rt 52, your philanthropy and stewardship of the land! Brandywiners.org 478.3355

DELAWARE SHAKESPEARE FESTIVAL

Having been in business only 1/10th of The Brandywiners fabled tradition, this group mounts for the first time one of The Bard's 'problem' plays. The sobriquet came from the ambivalence of its mission: the first 3 acts are ripe with psychological sturm und drang and the last two are comedic. The lead character suffers insane paranoia to begin the show but apparently can laugh about it in conclusion. (I guess that's why they are called psychotics.)
The most pastoral setting is provided care of the Shipleys and the Bringhursts, former squires of Rockwood Mansion. Picnic baskets are available through Greenery Caterers online.
From July 15. Delshakes.org

FLOTSAM AND JETSAM

I had reported last week on a management change at DuPont Theatre regarding DE All State Theatre. Founder/producer Jeff Santoro told me that there is a good chance they will not be returning. I suggested taking the big bucks delivered to DuPont Company and use it to air condition DE Children's Theatre.