**** Highly Recommended Some Like It Hot is a big, old-fashioned Broadway musical straight out of the thirties and forties. It’s full of big band music and songs, big tap dance numbers, and beautiful people wearing stunning costumes. Some Like It Hot is also a farce, with rapid fire dialogue, mistaken identities, men dressing as women, insane chases, lots of doors and plenty of pratfalls. I loved every minute of this show! 4 BIG Spotlights
Some Like It Hot is based on the 1959 MGM/UA film starring Marilyn Monroe, Tony Curtis and Jack Lemmon often called the funniest movie of all time. The film is based on a 1935 French film, Fanfare of Love. The musical was written by Matthew López and Amber Ruffin with music by Marc Shaiman, lyrics by Scott Wittman and Marc Shaiman. It is directed and choreographed by Casey Nicholaw.
When Sweet Sue (Tarra Connor Jones) and her band were playing in a Chicago speakeasy, it was raided and she was arrested. Disgusted, she decided to form an all-girl band and head for California.
Meanwhile, her saxophonist, Joe (Matt Loehr) and bass player, Jerry (Tavis Kordell), go to the Cheetah Club looking for work. Bar Manager (Michael Skrzek) is willing to hire Joe, but not Jerry, because they don’t hire black people. When Joe refuses to work without Jerry, explaining that they were raised as brothers and perform as the Tip-Tap Twins, club owner Spats Columbo (Devon Goffman) gives them one chance, but they accidentally witness a shooting, which sends them running for their lives.
Since they know Sweet Sue is looking for a saxophonist and a bass player, Joe convinces Jerry that they need to put on dresses and join her band so they can get to California and eventually to Mexico. Joe will be Josephine while Jerry says he’ll be Daphne.
Once on the train, they meet the other band members and start rehearsing. Joe becomes infatuated with Sugar (Leandra Ellis Gaston), the band’s singer. At one point, Josephine and Daphne sing and dance with Sugar for Sweet Sue, who incorporates them into the act as the Tip-Tap Trio. As the band travels across the country, they play in towns along the way. In California, hotel owner, Osgood Fielding (Edward Juvier), an eccentric millionaire, falls in love with and courts Daphne. Alas, Spats catches up with them leading to a chase scene that is out of this world!
Also appearing: Nellie (Darian Crago), Mack (Tommy Sutter), Sonny (Jay Owens), Mulligan (Jamie Laverdiere), Toothpick Charlie (Michael Skrzek), Minnie (Devon Hadsell), Delores (Nissi Shalome), Ginger (Ashley Marie Arnold), Vivian (Emily Kelly), Man with Suitcase (Stephen Michael Langton).
The Society Syncopators include Ashley Marie Arnold, Kelly Berman, Darian Crago, Emily Kelly, Brianna Kim, Ranease Ryann and Nissi Shalome.
Gangsters, Porters Bellhops et al: Drew Franklin, Devin Holloway, Stephen Michael Langton, Jay Owens, Michael Skrzek and Tommy Sutter.
Orchestra: Mark Binns (Conductor/Keys 1), Tina Faye Associate Conductor/Keys 2), John Wojciechowski (Reed 1), Scott Burns (Reed 2), Mathew Wifler (Reed 3), Peter Brusen (Reed 4), Matt Gallagher (Trumpet 1), Brent Turney (Trumpet 2), Michael Joyce (Trombone 1), Norman Palm (Trombone 2), Chris Sutherland (Drums) and Daniel Lopatka (Bass).
Some Like It Hot runs through November 3rd at the Cadillac Palace Theatre, 151 W. Randolph, Chicago. I suggest using a parking app to find the best parking option for you.
Running time is 2 hours 30 minutes, with an intermission. Performances are Tuesday through Thursday at 7:00 pm; Friday at 7:30 pm; Saturday at 2:00 and 7:30 pm; and Sunday at 1:00 pm. Tickets range from $30 - $125. FYI (800) 775-2000, all Ticketmaster retail locations and www.BroadwayInChicago.com.