by Mark G. Auerbach
I’ve been a major Some Like It Hot fanboy, since the musical released a video of the title song in the summer of 2022, a hint of the musical’s sizzle. I saw the musical in previews on Broadway, and took to it instantly. I’ve worn out the original cast CD, and I’ve been counting down the days until its Hartford opening, more fervently than some people count down the days until the summer pool season. I had high expectations for the tour. Through Sunday, The Bushnell is hosting a thoroughly modern valentine to the golden age of musical comedy…the kind that thrived before the chandeliers crashed, or the felines danced in the trash. Some Like It Hot is based on an award-winning film comedy, infused with period music expertly created by Marc Shaiman and Scott Wittman of Hairspray and Smash fame. The musical won several Tony Awards and a Grammy.
Some Like It Hot is based on the hilarious 1959 movie hit (with Marilyn Monroe, Tony Curtis and Jack Lemmon), but given a new twist by Matthew Lopez and Amber Ruffin. They moved the action from the Roaring 20s of the movie to the big band and swing era of the 1930s, and they gave the musical a more modern sensibility. (Incidentally, this is not the first Broadway musical adaptation of the film. In 1972, David Merrick produced Sugar as a vehicle for Robert Morse and Tony Roberts). Some Like It Hot won well-deserved accolades for its smart book, snappy score, and breath-taking choreography. The tour at The Bushnell captures all of the great points of the Broadway version.
Joe and Jerry are two itinerant musicians who pick up a club gig, when they witness a mob massacre. They disguise themselves as Josephine and Geraldine/Daphne, and join Sweet Sue and her Society Syncopators, an all-girl band winding its way out west. Along the way, they meet Sugar, an aspiring singer, and Osgood, a millionaire. On the journey, they’re transformed as people trying to find their real selves while trapped in their assumed identities. And, they sing and dance with abandon every step of the way. In fact, the 11 o’clock number, “Tip Tap Trouble” an ingenious tap number with slamming doors and rapid costume changes, is not only proof of Casey Nicolaw’s staging genius, but one of the finest summaries of a musical ever.
There are several stand-outs in the cast. Tavis Kordell is superb as Jerry/Daphne, whose journey towards self-acceptance pivots into the showstopping “You Could Have Knocked Me Over With A Feather”. Tarra Connor Jones sizzles as Sweet Sue, the leader of the all-girl band. Leanna Ellis-Gaston is a charmer as Sugar, singing torch songs and tap dancing with elegance.
This very funny musical with the best dancing around plays The Bushnell through Sunday, May 4. For tickets: www.bushnell.org
The Bushnell presents Some Like It Hot. Book by Matthew Lopez and Amber Ruffin. Music, lyrics, and vocal arrangements by Marc Shaiman. Lyrics by Scott Wittman. Directed and choreographed by Casey Nicholaw. Music direction by Mark Binns. Scenic design by Scott Pask. Costume design by Gregg Barnes. Lighting design by Natasha Katz. Sound design by Brian Ronan. Cast: Matt Loehr (Joe/Josephine), Tavis Kordell (Jerry/Daphne), Leanna Ellis-Gaston (Sugar), Edward Juvier (Osgood), Tarra Connor Jones (Sweet Sue) Through May 4 at The Bushnell, For tickets: www.bushnell.org.
Mark G. Auerbach studied theatre at American University and The Yale School of Drama. He has worked for arts organizations nationwide, and reported on the arts for print and broadcast. Mark produces and hosts ArtsBeat, Survivor Stories, and On The Mark for WCPC15 and 89.5fm/WSKB. He’s a regular contributor to Berkshire Onstage and a member of the Berkshire Theatre Critics Association.