Photograph by Mike Ivanitsky
Sunnyvale residents Mike Durkin and Elisa Camahort (center) take principal roles in Cole Porter's "Kiss Me Kate," produced by Bay Area Theatre Critics Circle Award-winning Foothill Music Theatre. Other Sunnyvale residents pictured include, left to right, Elizabeth Maggio, Bob Mueller, Allison Howell, Joe Colletti and Patricia Humeau. "Kiss Me Kate" plays at Foothill College's Smithwick Theatre from July 26-Aug. 18.
By MICHELLE KU
Eight Sunnyvale residents are working on stage and behind the scenes of the Foothill Music Theater's production of Cole Porter's Kiss Me Kate.
The musical is a play-within-a-play about a theater group that is staging The Taming of the Shrew. The company's backstage antics mirror those of the characters they're playing in Shakespeare's comedy; Elisa Camahort and Mike Durkin play the dual roles of Bianca/Lois Lane and Baptista/
Harry Trevor, respectively. Sunnyvale residents Joe Coletti, Allison Howell, Patricia Humeau and Elizabeth Maggio are members of the ensemble.
Although Bianca is a virtuous young woman who has to wait for her sister Kate (the shrew of Shakespeare's title) to marry before she can do so herself, Camahort's Lois Lane character is quite the opposite, a nightclub singer who finally gets the opportunity to act in legitimate theater.
"She's kind of easy, kind of a sexpot," Camahort says. "She's blissfully unaware that people might not accept [her dalliances with men to further her career]. She sings great music, has a sassy personality and is basically just fun."
Durkin's Harry Trevor is the company member playing Baptista, the father of Kate and Bianca.
"I find it very interesting because I get to do some Shakespeare," Durkin says. "I get to change characters and play two characters in one role."
Kiss Me Kate is being staged at Foothill College in Los Altos Hills, where Sunnyvale residents Joe Ragey and Janis Bergmann are on the faculty. They're also involved in the show, Ragey as the set designer and Bergmann as the costume designer.
Ragey says Foothill Music Theater attracts performers and production staff from all over the Bay Area.
"We have a strong reputation for professional theater, do highly regarded productions, and have a very large following," he adds.
"Foothill is definitely a step above your basic community theater," Camahort agrees. "It attracts people who are serious and know what they're doing. People are willing to drive a bit to produce a good work."
Kiss Me Kate runs July 26-Aug. 18 at the Smithwick Theater, Foothill College, Los Altos Hills. Performances are Thu.-Sat. at 8 p.m. and Wed. at 2:30 p.m. Tickets are $8-$12. For more information, call (415) 949-7414.
This article appeared in the Sunnyvale Sun, July 24, 1996.
©1996 Metro Publishing, Inc. All rights reserved.