Lilli Vanessi (Mary Beth Phillips) shows her engagement ring to her ex-husband, Frederick Graham (Derek Peterson), in “Kiss Me, Kate” at Myrtle Point High School. World Photos by Madeline Steege

MYRTLE POINT - Musicals tend to rely on the improbable.

In “Kiss Me, Kate,” a divorced couple works together in a production of Shakespeare's “The Taming of the Shrew,” and their relationship mirrors that of the play's main characters.

Exes working together? Unusual, but it happens.

Life imitating art? It's not so hard to believe that happens, too.

A modern production of “Taming of the Shrew”? Now that's improbable.

At least since 1948, it's far more likely that the tumultuous lovers would be starring in the show that has almost entirely replaced “Shrew” - “Kiss Me, Kate.” One of Shakespeare's problem plays didn't stand a chance when Cole Porter's most popular musical came along. Perhaps most people would rather “brush up” their Shakespeare than confront his language head-on.

The trend continues as “Kiss Me, Kate” plays this weekend at Myrtle Point High School.

Director Lisa Crew said the musical was chosen to showcase the talents of a group of senior boys who have been in all of the school's productions the last few years. (The show is a first for most of the girls in the cast.)

“They wanted to do something that would test them,” Crew said. “It's been a challenge, especially with senioritis setting in. Š They've never let me down.”

The show is double-cast to give more students opportunities in the big roles, but that also complicated the challenge of getting everyone ready for Thursday's opening. School trips also took students away from rehearsals.

But that's nothing compared to the compulsive gambling and personality conflicts that threaten to derail the play within the play.

Actor/director/producer Frederick Graham (Derek Peterson, David Standiford) has his hands full trying to bring together his “Shrew” cast in Baltimore during the 1948 election season. His ex-wife, Lilli Vanessi (Billie Jo Morris, Mary Beth Phillips), is a star who doesn't want to listen to anything the director has to say. Nightclub singer Lois Lane (Katie Standiford, Bryna Peterson) is open to suggestion, but she doesn't know much about acting. And Bill Calhoun (Buddy Hill, Caleb Toulou) is so deep in debt he needs to borrow money to afford the $2 cab ride to the theater from where he does his gambling. Hours before the opening, he just lost $10,000 - and signed Fred's name to the IOU.

There's also a relationship between Bill and Lois, who play Lucentio and Bianca.

Though Fred and Lilli have their differences, they maintain a closeness, sharing adjoining dressing rooms, visiting each other frequently when not onstage and breaking into a spontaneous waltz. The nostalgia seems to run deep enough to foster a reunion, except that Lilli is engaged to someone else - General Harrison Howell (Bill Bray), who is running for vice president.

But when Paul (Karl Smith), a crew member, delivers flowers from Fred intended for Lois to Lilli's room, the pleasant détente Fred and Lilli have enjoyed appears about to explode. Fred is able to stall her from reading the card before she goes on, but Lilli takes it with her so she can read it at her first break.

Also before the opening, a pair of gangsters (Zac Huff, Jordan Newell) arrives to try to collect Bill's debt from Fred. His lack of memory concerning the IOU doesn't help, but nor does the half-empty theater. In a joke about Baltimore being provincial, Fred says there are deer running around in the balcony - ironic, considering that sort of thing could actually happen in rural Myrtle Point.

Onstage as Katherine and Petruchio, Lilli and Fred elevate their fight scenes to the level of assaulting each other after Lilli discovers the note, leaving Harry (Toulou, Hill) to try to referee as he plays Katherine's father, Baptista.

Lilli decides to leave the show early and calls Harrison for a ride, but Fred convinces the gangsters that the only way they can collect their debt is if she stays. After brandishing their weapons in her dressing room, the goons put on costumes and follow her around the stage.

It's a lot to deal with on an opening night, when most actors only have to worry about knowing their lines.

The cast also includes Alessa Downing, Tara Scott, Stephen Joyce and a chorus of Emily Morris, Kelsey Peterson, Brittany Corbit, Henrietta Scriven and Meghan Ross.

Music will be provided by the school band, which includes Caleb Carpenter, Emily Carpenter, Josh Carpenter, Gary Dickenson, Megan Dimler, Briana Laird, Afton Libbett, Cameron Scott, Chuck Scott, Karissa Scott and Dylan Wilson.

The show runs through Sunday, with performances at 7:30 tonight and Saturday and at 2 p.m. Sunday. Tickets are $5, $3 for students and seniors, and $10 for families.