FARMINGTON — The words are Shakepearean. The music is Americana. And the messages are modern. This spring, the western foothills come alive with the sounds of Shakespeare, bluegrass, insults, and laughter as Mt. Blue High School presents “Kate,” an original musical adaptation of “The Taming of the Shrew,” May 10, 11, 12, and 13 in the MBHS Auditorium in Farmington. Proceeds from the production benefit the Mt. Blue Music Boosters.

Adapted and directed by Dan Ryder, Kate takes Shakespeare’s story of an angry, bitter young woman targeted for marriage and “taming” and puts a modern spin on it — sort of. Set in 1930s Franklin County, Kate introduces a young woman, Katherine Minola (Jennifer Hinds), more than a little frustrated by her mother, Baptista’s (Kerri Cooper) insistence that she be married before her more agreeable, charming, and courted sister, Bianca (Paige Kincaid) may wed. Enter Petruchio (Noah LePage), just the sort of quick-witted, smooth-talking, empty-wallet-ed man for the job. What follows is a madcap comedy of false impressions, mistaken identities, and general lunacy, leaving audiences thinking about being true to one’s self while finding satisfaction in the least likely of places.

The laughs come to the audience accompanied by a soundtrack of traditional folk, bluegrass, and blues tunes, arranged by Music Director Sam Sytsma. While typical musicals feature characters breaking into song at a moment’s notice, Kate more often delivers songs as they would have been encountered in Depression-era Farmington: the radio and the back porch. Uncle Henry (Alex Chandler) and Aunt Maggie (Louisa Stancioff) of radio station WBRD, take the audience down musical memory lane via a talented collection of performers including numerous members of the Franklin County Fiddlers, Mt. Blue Voices, Mt. Blue Syncopations and Mt. Blue Jazz Band.

Audience members should arrive early for two special pre-show performances. During auditions and rehearsals, the directors realized the stage show itself cannot contain the musical talent involved in the production. Thus, the MBHS cafeteria will come alive one hour before curtain, with members of the cast performing selections not heard during the show.

“Kate,” an original musical adaptation of The Taming of the Shrew, opens at 7 p.m., Thursday, May 10  in the Mt. Blue High School Auditorium. The show continues at 7 p.m. Friday and Saturday, May 11 and 12,., with a special mom-admitted-for-free matinee at 2 p.m. Sunday, May 13. Tickets are $7 for adults, $4 for students/seniors and  are on sale Monday, April 23 at Devaney, Doak & Garrett Booksellers on Broadway in Farmington. Questions about the production may be directed to director, Dan Ryder, at dryder@mtbluersd.org or 207-778-3561.

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