Reviewed by Judd Hollander
The classic 1959 film "Some Like It Hot" gets the Broadway treatment and comes out running on pretty much all cylinders. Thanks in no small part to an excellent score, some very strong directorial efforts, an absolutely wonderful cast, and a tour-de-force performance by J. Harrison Ghee.
Things
start off in 1933
Thanks to
some quick talking and fast dancing, Jerry and Joe land a gig at a nightclub
owned by mobster Spats Colombo (Mark Lotito). Not long after, the two find
themselves at the wrong place at the wrong time when they witness Spats and his henchman commit murder. Forced to
flee for their lives, Joe comes up with the idea to dress up as women so they
can get safely out of town. Sought by both the mob and the police, the duo, now
calling themselves “Josephine” and “Daphne”, join up with the Society
Syncopators, an all-girl band about to go out on tour. The band is headed by
Sweet Sue (NaTasha Yvette Williams). A
Also with
the band is lead singer, Sugar Kane (Adrianna Hicks). A woman whose chronic
lateness, fondness for the bottle and desire to be a film star puts her at odds
with the rest of the band. While Joe and Jerry initially plan to stick with the
group until it gets to
Some Like It Hot works not only due to the comedic situations and enjoyable musical numbers, but also because of the more the somber moments crafted by bookwriters Matthew López and Amber Ruffin. Elements which crystallize perfectly in act two, where Osgood notes how "the world reacts to what it sees" but "doesn't have very good eyesight". A reference to peoples’ habit of taking everything and everyone at face value. Without trying to see what might be underneath.
This is a lesson learned by several of the characters. When Joe defends Sugar against hurtful comments from the other girls in the band, he begins to realize how he himself has treated women in the past. At the same time, Sugar begins to see in "Josephine" her first true female friend. One who can, ironically, see her for who she truly is. Meanwhile Jerry, who realizes how important getting in touch with his feminine side has become, realizes he has to stop simply following Joe’s lead and start to live life on his own terms.
The music by Marc Shaiman and lyrics by Scott Wittman & Shaiman are excellent. Several of their contributions (i.e. “You Can’t Have Me (If You Don’t Have Him)” and “Vamp” brought brilliantly to life thanks to the sterling musical, verbal, and physical interplay between Borle and Ghee. Casey Nicholaw’s direction and choreography is also a main contributor to the show’s success. Particularly enchanting is a graceful dance number between Joe and Sugar (“Dance the World Away”), which calls to mind a Fred Astaire/Ginger Rogers ballroom sequence.
Kevin Del Aguila and the cast of SOME LIKE IT HOT. Photo credit: Marc J. FranklinWhen looking at Ghee as Jerry/Daphne it‘s hard to imagine anyone else in the part. This is a case of the performer fitting the role so perfectly, that the moment Daphne comes into being, it’s as if the actor and character have fused into one. The resulting performance is touching, comical and completely believable. The character also makes the number You Coulda Knocked Me Over With a Feather” into a truly show-stopping experience.
Borle make a perfect Joe, a heel when it comes to women, who learns the value of finding something more permanent. Hicks is very good as Sugar, a woman with a weakness for saxophone players who has constructed a cynical shell of protection due to bitter past experience. Hicks also powerfully delivers with the ballads “A Darker Shade of Blue” and “Ride Out the Storm”. Along with the quietly wistful “At the Old Majestic Nickel Matinee”.
NaTasha Yvette Williams and the cast of SOME LIKE IT HOT. Photo credit: Marc J. FranklinWilliams
is enjoyable as Sweet Sue, a brassy, no-nonsense, take-charge woman. Aguila is
a perfect fit as Osgood. Someone who initially only seems there for comic
relief, but eventually proves far to be more intuitive than expected. Angie
Schworer is fun as Minnie. A member of the band who has a continual habit of
confusing apartment numbers. Lotito has a nice scenery chewing role as Spats.
The only thing that doesn’t work as well as it should are some of the chase scenes. Most done in full tap dancing mode; and which are sometimes a bit more slapstick than necessary. The various sets by Scott Pask are enjoyable. Costumes by Gregg Barnes nicely fit the period, though they’re not all that memorable.
Some Like It Hot may not be completely perfect, but it comes pretty darn close.
Kevin Del Aguila, J. Harrison Ghee, NaTasha Yvette Williams, Adrianna Hicks, Christian Borle and the company of SOME LIKE IT HOT. Photo credit: Matthew Murphy
Featuring: NaTashya Yvette Williams (Sweet Sue), Christian Borle (Joe/Josephine), J. Harrison Ghee (Jerry/Daphne), Devon Hadsell (Nellie), Casey Garvin (Mack), Jarvis B. Manning, Jr. (Sonny), Mark Lotito (Spats), Adam Heller (Mulligan), Charles South (Toothpick Charlie), Angie Schworer (Minnie), TyNia René Brandon (Dolores), Kayla Pecchioni (Ginger), Jenny Hill (Vivian), Adrianna Hicks (Sugar), K.J. Hippensteel (Bar Manager, Man with Suitcase), Kevin Del Aguila (Osgood).
Society
Syncopators: TyNia René Brandon, Gabi
Campo,
Gangsters, Porters, Bellhops, et, al.: K.J. Hippensteel, Casey Garvin, Jarvis B. Manning, Jr., Brian Martin, Charles South, Brendon Stimson, Julius Williams, Richard Raz Yoder.
Some Like It Hot
Book by Matthew Lopez and Amber Ruffin
Music by Marc Shaiman
Lyrics by Scott Wittman and Marc Shaiman
Based on the Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Motion Picture "Some Like It Hot"
Scenic Designer: Scott Pask
Costume Designer: Gregg Barnes
Lighting Designer: Natasha Katz
Sound Deign: Brian Ronan
Hair Design: Josh Marquette
Makeup Design: Milagros Medina-Cerdeira
Additional Material by Christian Borle and Joe Farrell
Orchestrations: Charlie Rosen and Bryan Carter
Vocal Arrangements: Marc Shaiman
Dance & Incidental Music Arrangements: Glen Kelly
Music Director: Darryl Archibald
Music Coordinator: Kristy Norter
Directed
and Choreographed by Casey Nicholaw
Sam S. Shubert Theatre
225 West 44th Street
Tickets: 212-632-6200 or www.telecharge.com
Information: www.SomeLikeItHotMusical.com
Running Time: 2 Hours, 40 minutes with one intermission
Open Run
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