Music carries `Kiss Me’> Maine Masque gives lively performance

“Kiss Me Kate,” which the Maine Masque is presenting this weekend at the University of Maine, is the kind of musical you hate to love. It came out of the late 1940s, when it seemed like a good thing for men and women to beat on each other.

A revision of Shakepeare’s “The Taming of the Shrew,” this comedy is a play within a play. The actors are both the members of a touring production and the characters in “The Taming of the Shrew.” Tempers flare backstage and onstage when popular actor Fred Graham performs opposite his ex-wife, Lilli Vanessi, but flirts with Lois Lane, a diamond-in-the-rough cabaret singer. Then there’s a lot of smacking and slapping and storming out and, eventually, kissing.

All that said, “Kiss Me Kate” is a musical you may love to love, too, and that’s almost entirely because of music by Cole Porter. Co-conductors Daniel Williams and Anatole Wieck take a smart approach to leading this student orchestra. Up tempos and the delightful songs are the joy of this show — even if the occasional violin goes a little sour.

Sandra Hardy has also directed the student cast with usual pertness — not to mention some Broadway oomph and toothy smiles. The show rocks, even with maddeningly sappy dialogue.

The performances that really kick belong to the supporting actors, who do fine ensemble work. The particular shiners when it comes to character development are Eric Milligan, Andrew Lyons, Marianne Bozza, Sandra Bisson, Jennifer Drew, Todd Daley, Timothy Simons and Scott Watson. As gangsters, Christopher Snipe and Matthew Vire come on with a bang, and their musical number, “Brush Up On Your Shakespeare,” is the funniest segment of the show. It would be funnier, too, if they enunciated more clearly. Misty Dawn Jordan and Kristen Williams fill up the background with entertaining shtick, too.

Shannon Chase, as Lilli/Kate, has marvelous stage presence, even if her voice isn’t always commanding. Christopher Ashmore, as Fred/Petruchio, grabs hold of every second he’s on stage. His solo, “Where Is the Life That Late I Led,” has poise and flair. Jason Zelinski, as Bill/Lucentio, comes up bland compared to the sizable performances around him. The star of this foursome is Sandra Howard, as Lois/Bianca, who amazingly makes you want more of her bimbosity.

Wayne Merritt’s set fluidly takes you into the many rooms of this show, and Steve Carignan offers amusement with, of all things, the lighting design. Costumes by Richard MacPike are often lovely, though sometimes unflattering, and choreography by Janet Warner-Ashley is spunky.

“Kiss Me Kate” will be performed at 7:30 p.m. Feb. 20 and 21, and 2 p.m. Feb. 21 and 22 at Hauck Auditorium. For tickets, call 581-1755.