Kiss Me, Kate

Actor-manager Fred Graham has cast his ex-wife, the film star Lilli Vanessi, as Katherine in his song-and-dance version of The Taming of the Shrew, with himself as Petruchio. Then a bouquet meant for the flirtatious Lois Lane lands in Lilli's hands, Lois's gambling boyfriend Bill signs Fred's name to a debt, and two oddly courteous gangsters turn up to collect. The quarrel spills from the dressing rooms onto the stage, and Padua gets a good deal rougher than rehearsed.