Baby, Let’s Get Good!

Some Like It Hot

After innocently witnessing a Mafia murder, Joe, a saxophone player and his partner, Jerry, a bass player, come up with a risky plan to escape Chicago before they’re rubbed out. The musicians are broke so they need to earn some fast cash to survive. But it’s 1933 and the Depression is on. There are no jobs for instrumentalists— except, perhaps, in an all-girl jazz band that’s about to tour the country, eventually ending up in sunny California. Does this plot sound familiar? Well, as the song says,  “Baby, Let’s Get Good!” 

This 2022 Broadway musical, which was nominated for a record thirteen Tony Awards (and winning four) was adapted from Billy Wilder’s classic 1959 comedy film, “Some Like It Hot.” The show boasts the book-writing team of Matthew Lopez (THE INHERITANCE) and comedian Amber Ruffin (“Late Night with Seth Meyers”), with a great score by Marc Shaiman (HAIRSPRAY) and lyrics by Shaiman and Scott Wittman (also of HAIRSPRAY fame). The result is a fresh, fluffy and fun-loving confection of a musical, filled with high energy dancing, crossdressing musicians, sexy chorines, and all the sassiness of the era. It’s a delicious, delectable musical that makes for perfect Autumn entertainment.

Because the show’s source material is so familiar and beloved (the American Film Institute named “Some Like It Hot” the top comedy of all time), two-time Tony Award-winning Director/Choreographer Casey Nicholaw (ALADDIN, THE BOOK OF MORMON) begins the musical in a Chicago speakeasy. As the story unfolds, the audience gets caught up in Joe and Jerry’s life-and-death dilemma, as well as in all the hilarity that continues to ensue. The show that the New York Times accurately labeled “A Super-Sized, All-Out Song-and-Dance Spectacular,” is in the Windy City as part of the First National Tour. The production truly lives up to the name, Broadway in Chicago. Having seen this exciting, toe-tapping musical in New York, with its original cast, I can vouch for this production. It’s just as eye-popping, energetic and full-out entertaining as it was on Broadway. 

To fans of the movie, the basic plot will be familiar (with a few new updates and additions), but the songs are all brand new. In addition to the snappy title song that closes Act I, there are great, jazzy tunes like “What Are You Thirsty For,” “Take It Up a Step,” “I’m California Bound,” “Let’s Be Bad,” the gorgeous ballad, “Ride Out the Storm” and the rousing finale, “Baby, Let’s Get Good.” Nicholaw’s direction is spot-on and his Tony Award-winning choreography is simply sensational. He incorporates tap dancing into almost every single number, particularly in an ingenious, eleventh hour chase scene, entitled “Tip Tap Trouble” that utilizes six doors and features the entire company.

 This Touring production features a stellar cast. From the leading roles to its talented, hard-working ensemble, this is a large company that’s big on talent and long on Broadway experience. Matt Loehr is absolutely hilarious as Joe/Josephine and Tavis Kordell puts his own stamp on the role of Jerry/Daphne. The pair make a great comic team, yet each of these triple-threat actors is individually sensational. Mr. Loehr shows his astounding versatility by actually playing three roles: the musician/hoofer, the crossdressing saxophonist and a fictional German screenwriter, Kip von der Plotz. And, no surprise, he’s wonderful as each character and even gets to show off his talent as a romantic leading man. 

Lovable Tavis Kordell finds that Jerry, while hiding in drag from the bad guys, has surprisingly discovered his feminine side. It’s a life-changing moment for which the audience cheers Jerry’s bravery. When Daphne attracts the romantic interest of Osgood Fielding III, the eccentric millionaire and the Hotel Coronado’s jubilant owner, Jerry decides that he enjoys being a female and he wants to continue living his life in mascara and heels. Mr. Kordell absolutely owns this role. Osgood, Daphne’s paramour, is played with perfect panache and playfulness by the gifted comedian, Edward Juvier. This absolutely fantastic actor is also a great singer/dancer. Effortlessly, he steals every scene.  

Lovely Leandra Ellis-Gaston is sweet and spectacular as Sugar Cane, the sexy soloist of the all-girl band (created in the film by Marilyn Monroe). She’s a truly talented belting songstress who’s hoping to get into the movies while desperately looking for love. Talented supernova Tarra Conner Jones is terrific as Sweet Sue, the no-nonsense matriarch and band leader of the group. With her delightful, in-your-face performance, Ms. Jones will remind seasoned theatergoers of the late, great Nell Carter. And Devon Hadsell makes a very funny Minnie, Sweet Sue’s sometimes put-upon assistant.

Besides a fantastic cast, the show boasts a wonderful pit orchestra, conducted by keyboard artist and Music Director, Mark Binns. Scott Pask’s Scenic Design is stylishly detailed and elegant and plays perfectly on the Cadillac Palace stage. Gregg Barnes’ beautiful, Tony Award-winning Costumes, accented by lovely period Hair Designs courtesy of Josh Marquette, will blind theatergoers with their abundance of sparkle and pizzazz. Everyone looks and sounds great, thanks to a talented team of tech theatre artists.

SOME LIKE IT HOT is a throwback to those great old-fashioned musicals of Broadway’s Golden Age. With a wink and a nod to those big, splashy, song-and-dance shows or yore, like GIRL CRAZY, 42nd STREET, ON THE TOWN and SINGING IN THE RAIN, this production simply sizzles. The script is also an update of one the funniest films of all time, allowing one of the on-the-lam crossdressers to continue expressing his own gender preference beyond the final curtain. In this, SOME LIKE IT HOT takes the element of crossdressing, found in shows like MRS. DOUBTFIRE and TOOTSIE, a step further to reflect our  contemporary times. This is a spectacular musical that’s silly, spicy and crackling hot, so Baby, Let’s Get Good!  

Highly Recommended

Reviewed by Colin Douglas

Presented October 2-November 3 by Broadway in Chicago at the Cadillac Palace Theatre, 151 W. Randolph, Chicago.

Tickets are available at all BIC box offices, at all Ticketmaster retail locations, by calling the Broadway in Chicago Ticket Line at 800-775-2000 or by going to www.BroadwayInChicago.com

Additional information about this and other area productions can be found at www.theatreinchicago.com.