Although Shakespeare might turn over in his grave if he could see what happened to his "The Taming of the Shrew." audiences are still enjoying Cole Porter's gay musical after to years of popularity. While it was still a Broadway success, producers Saint Suber and Lemuel Ayers organized a national company of "Kiss Me Kate" and brought it to 54 cities in the United States and Canada. Now this charming bit of fantasy is back in Boston to haunt theater-goers with its hit tunes and exotic settings.

What was basically a hackneyed plot--boy has girl, boy loses girl, boy gets girl back--is saved by a play within a play. Director John C. Wilson has combined the best scenes from "The Taming of the Shrew" with Porter's music and some exciting choreography by Hanya Holm to make a highly entertaining show. Lemuel Ayers' costumes and settings are not only magnificent but give the production a light pastel touch which keeps it from being the usually garish musical comedy.

The voices of Holly Harris and Robert Wright blend perfectly in songs like "Wunderbar" and "So in Love," while Miss Harris shows her versatility by convincingly tearing up the stage in "I Hate Men." Aided by a group of very pretty girls, Frank Derbas is a pleasure to watch as he dances the dual roles of Bill Calhoun and Lucentio. Hank Henry and Sparky Kaye put just the right touch of burlesque into the production with their "Brush Up Your Shakespeare." The show-stopper, however, it s a modern jazz song-and-dance number, "It's Too Darn Hot."

In a fine production like "Kiss Me Kate" it is regrettable to have a weak performer in one of the main roles. Marilyn Day's voice has a certain foghorn quality that doesn't fit a love song, and, strangely enough, doesn't even lend itself to the more raucous "Always True to You in My Fashion."

Despite this one weak spot, "Kiss Me Kate" is an excellent sophisticated musical.