The stage musical “Some Like It Hot,” now on the Orpheum Theatre in San Francisco, is a pleasant mixture of the previous and new—a merely swell adaptation of the 1959 basic movie comedy about two cross-dressing musicians making an attempt to flee a mobster after they witness successful.
People conversant in the enduring Billy Wilder-directed film starring Tony Curtis, Jack Lemmon and Marilyn Monroe will acknowledge the characters and far of the plot of this 2022 Tony Award-winning musical.
The nationwide touring firm of “Some Like It Hot” options, at heart, Edward Juvier as Osgood, Tavis Kordell as Daphne and a top-notch singing and dance corps. (Courtesy Matthew Murphy/BroadwaySF)
But the intelligent guide by Matthew López and Amber Ruffin and rating by Marc Shaiman and Scott Wittman (of “Hairspray” fame) properly updates with nuance the Prohibition era-story for twenty first century audiences tuned in to problems with variety, gender fluidity, racism and sexism.
Right here, when Matt Loehr as saxophonist Joe (Curtis within the film) and Tavis Kordell as bassist Jerry (Lemmon on movie) disguise themselves to affix a feminine touring band, their act of donning wigs and clothes isn’t extensively performed for laughs because it was for followers of the now dated movie. And the fellows’ discovery of their female aspect involves mild in candy methods. Jerry, who turns into Daphne, utters an applause-earning, nice line about being OK being addressed by both identify—however with respect.
Nonetheless, the present doesn’t provide grandiose social statements. It’s really a song-and-dance extravaganza with dazzling nostalgic choreography by Casey Nicholaw (“The Book of Mormon”), who additionally directs.
The tapping is rampant all through, and to die for. In contrast to within the film, the musicians on the run right here are also dancers, and nice ones. Joe and Jerry’s entrance is a show-stopping duet wherein Loehr and Kordell show stamina and elegance paying homage to the Nicholas Brothers.
The present’s penultimate quantity, with the very good and essential full corps leaping and swerving out and in of a number of doorways that swiftly transfer throughout the stage, is loopy chaos and pure glee!
The dance numbers are to die for within the nationwide tour of “Some Like It Hot” onstage on the Orpheum Theatre in San Francisco. (Courtesy Matthew Murphy/BroadwaySF)
Leandra Ellis-Gaston as Sugar (the Monroe character) is greater than a breathy stereotypical sexpot. Not solely does she get the present’s loveliest ballads, belting them with vigor, her inevitable romance even has depth. And she or he dances, too.
Edward Juvier as Osgood, the goofy, good-natured millionaire who’s smitten with Daphne, vocalizes with verve and endearingly hoofs up a storm.
Tarra Conner Jones, as sassy, sturdy, typically shrill, bandleader Candy Sue, will get the present going within the opening, speakeasy-set quantity. Sadly, as a consequence of a foul sound combine within the giant theater, her lyrics have been muddled at occasions, and the issue endured all through the present. Nonetheless, the excessive quantity doesn’t in the end have an insurmountable impact on ticketholders thrilled to get pleasure from a great, old school musical that brilliantly and seemingly paradoxically manages to be enjoyable, acquainted and modern on the similar time.
“Some Like It Hot” runs by way of Jan. 26 on the Orpheum Theatre, 1192 Market St., San Francisco. Tickets are $60 to $239 at broadwaysf.com or (888) 746-1799.
