Rating: 
Summary: Fantastic version of a classic
Review: This PBS - Great Performances version of "Kiss Me Kate" is a magnificent version of a classic musical. It makes the MGM film seem a grade school skit. The leads, Brent Barrett and Rachael York are so good there are not proper words to describe their performances. They become the characters - not an easy job when they are giving performances to fill a large theater and at the same time have close ups from cameras. Barrett is the perfect "Fred" conceited and self absorbed, but not so much that you don't like him - he is rather endearing. York is the beautiful film star with all the insecurities - a dead on characterization.Their singing is wonderful, much better than the Broadway leads on the CD of the New York version. Both are Broadway vetrans who were chosen to do the London production. Check out Miss York on the "Victor/Victoria" DVD version of the live show with Julie Andrews repeating her film role on stage. York is a talent to be reckoned with (she recently played Lucille Ball in the TV film of her life). Barrett has made many recordings of Broadway shows including "Grand Hotel" (in which he also played the lead on Broadway) and "Brigadoon". Everything about this production is wonderful PLUS it is the full show, not cut as is the film. A viewer gets the full "Brush Up Your Shakespear" one of the funniest songs ever written. For this reason alone, this is the best version to own. Also on the DVD is the great "From This Moment On" that is not even on the cast recording. No fan of musicals should be without this unbeatable "Kiss Me Kate"!!!!!!!
Rating:
Summary: Fantastic!
Review: This play is soo good! It is a play within a play within a play. I saw it on TV a few nights ago, and was struck by how funny it was. The singing is also outstanding and though there's not as much dancing it is really good when there is. Sometimes the songs drag on a bit (you think they're over but they're not) but becuase the overall play is so excellent you can stand the long songs. The two that play Frederic Graham and Lilli Vinessi are fantastic! They are deffinitely the best in the show, they have such star quality. When they sing you feel like they are singing to you and they have a very powerful presence. Not to mention that the play is totally hilarious, it had my sides splitting. I would deffinitely recommend this item!
Rating: 
Summary: A lovely play, great songs, better on B'way than London
Review: This recording of the London revival of the play is good. It originaly began on B'way with Brian Stokes Mitchell and Marin Mazzie. They are MUCH better than the players in this recording.
I saw the revival on B'way LIVE. Stokes had left, and Burke Moses took over, however he was out. I did manage to see Marin Mazzie in all her glory. She was full of it! (Glory, I mean) She was superb and wonderful. Stokes, I never saw, but heard on the CD. He is a terrific singer.
The actors in this recording are good, but I still have to say, Stokes and Mazzie are mutch better!!!
Rating: 
Summary: 5 star songs 1 star production
Review: This was a terrible production with no life and seemed jumpy and disjointed. It also felt thrown together and not well rehearsed with number dragging on longer than they should and others rushed. Rachel York was OK (she was better in Scarlet Pimpernel)but this is not her best performance at all.
All in all a disponting version and hard to see how it won a Tony for best revival..but then this isn't the original cast from that Tony winning revival so that may be the problem.
Rating:
Summary: Saw the taping...now the DVD
Review: Was in the audience when this DVD was recorded. Cannot say the cast improved, but the editing is sure marvelous. Saw so much more than when sitting in the third row center of the stalls.
Rating:
Summary: Great voices, bad editing
Review: We were very disappointed at the presentation, and may return the disc. Some production aren't worth keeping in our library, and this may be one. The view jumps frequently and annoyingly, especially during the dance sequences. Flashing to a closeup for half a second may have been fun in the editing booth, but is distracting on the screen. We couldn't tell if the choreography was bad, or simply looked that way due to inappropriate cuts and camera angles. A suggestion: when everyone's on stage in a big dance number, show the whole stage instead of jumping from one closeup to another.
The story's funny, which is why we bought the DVD, but I can't recommend this DVD to anyone who expects to get the feeling of a live performance. It isn't even up to American Playhouse production (ie; low budget) standards.
Rating:
Summary: Beautiful...
Review: What a marvelous piece. The performance on this DVD is of the 1999-2001 cast of Kiss Me Kate. Several years later one can look back on the glory of this fun production. Its leads vocalize with a fury rarely seen on video. It has wonderful dance and a great score. My only criticism would be that it has too many jokes, which fall flat. But that's no reason not to buy this gem.
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