Shaw Festival 2010 – Kurt Weill’s One Touch of Venus

Reviewed by Paula Citron

One Touch of Venus is the latest Shaw Festival’s musical resurrection. It should be a slam dunk – a terrific score by Kurt Weill, including the famous “Speak Low”, plus sophisticated lyrics by Ogden Nash. New York wits Nash and S.J. Perelman wrote the book.

One can’t fault director Eda Holmes on the energetic stage performance, or Michael Lichtefeld for the spirited dance numbers. The show also looks good in terms of design, and sports in the cast some of Shaw’s best musical stars. Robin Evan Willis is simply gorgeous as the Greek goddess who comes to life.

But something is definitely wrong, and it must be because the show is dated. The wit just isn’t witty anymore. I wonder if director Holmes should have gone for tongue-in-cheek or more satire in her approach, sort of the cast laughing at itself.

To be truthful, I found it a bore.

One Touch of Venus continues at the Royal George Theatre until Oct. 10.

One Touch of Venus
Shaw Festival 2010
Music by Kurt Weill
Lyrics by Ogden Nash
Book by Ogden Nash and S.J. Perelman
Directed by Eda Holmes
Starring Robin Evan Willis, Kyle Blaire, Deborah Hay , Mark Uhre, Neil Barclay, Gabrielle Jones, Julie Martell and Jay Turvey
At the Royal George Theatre, May 16 to Oct. 10