‘Some Like It Hot’ a sizzling extravaganza

‘SOME LIKE IT HOT’: Christian Borle & J. Harrison Ghee. Photo: Marc J. Franklin.

SOME LIKE IT HOT
Book by Matthew Lopez & Amber Ruffin
Music by Marc Shaiman
Lyrics by March Shaiman & Scott Wittman
Directed & choreographed by Casey Nicholaw
Shubert Theatre
 225 West 44th Street
(212-239-6200), https://somelikeithotmusical.com/

By David NouNou

If you want to thoroughly enjoy and be entertained by Some Like It Hot, the new musical, you have to completely divest yourself of any attachment or sentimental feelings you have for the classic 1959 Billy Wilder movie of the same name. Although Sugar, Joe/Josephine, and Jerry/Daphne still exist, do not expect to see imitations or impersonations of Marilyn Monroe, Tony Curtis and Jack Lemmon.

The creators kept the framework and the names of the three lead characters as well as the title of the movie, for brand recognition, but wisely decided to take them on a different journey. Joe (Christian Borle) and Jerry (J. Harrison Ghee) still witness a gangland killing and are chased by the mob. In order to protect their identity, they disguise themselves in drag as Josephine and Daphne and join an all-female band, Sweet Sue (NaTasha Yvette Williams) and her Society Syncopators, and meet female singer Sugar Kane (Adrianna Hicks). No longer is the train taking the female band to Florida for their engagement and the possibility of meeting rich eligible gentlemen. The ladies are now headed to San Diego and Hollywood stardom.

The setup for the scenes is completely different. No longer is it a run from Chicago to Miami, but the trip is cross-country, with lots of stops along the way. Each stop presents a different problem for the boys running from the mob; their destination is San Diego and ultimately Mexico and freedom. Once in San Diego, freedom comes at a price. Along the way, Joe, now Josephine, has fallen for Sugar, and Daphne has captured the heart of Osgood Fielding III (Kevin Del Aguila). Complications arise even further once affairs of the heart fall into place.

Although the book lacks fresh material and jokes, and the score is unmemorable, the freshest and most memorable aspect of the show is J. Harrison Ghee as Jerry/Daphne. As portrayed in the movie by Jack Lemmon, and one of my favorite movie characters of all time, I never thought I could ever get Jack Lemmon out of my mind. Mr. Ghee has taken this role and redefined it as his own. He is handsome as Jerry, heartbreaking as the emerging Daphne, and breathtaking as the gorgeous triumphant Daphne.

Two-time Tony Award winner for Peter and the Starcatcher and Something Rotten, Christian Borle is a Broadway veteran and has livened up many a Broadway show. However, his Joe/Josephine lacks charm and charisma and falls short in the shadow of Mr. Ghee. Once he dons his wig as Josephine, he looks like the spitting image of veteran Broadway character actress Jackie Hoffman. What more can I say?

Adrianna Hicks, who was splendid as Catherine of Aragon in last year’s Six, has a tremendous voice—she is a crowd-pleaser on her solo numbers “At the Old Majestic Nickel Matinee” and “Ride Out the Storm”—but her Sugar lacks vulnerability, thus making her one note with no dimension.

However, one should not focus too much on the show’s minor flaws. Amidst all the mayhem taking place on stage, director/choreographer Casey Nicholaw has worked his magic again, as he did for Aladdin, Book of Mormon, and Mean Girls, and sorts everything out replete with a Keystone Kops finale. He has turned Some Like It Hot into a sizzling, grand old-style Broadway extravaganza.

Edited by Scott Harrah
Published December 14, 2022
Reviewed at December 13, 2022  press performance.

‘SOME LIKE IT HOT’: Adrianna Hicks. Photo: Marc J. Franklin.

‘SOME LIKE IT HOT’: Adrianna Hicks & cast. Photo: Marc J. Franklin.

‘SOME LIKE IT HOT’: NaTasha Yvette Williams & cast. Photo: Marc J. Franklin.

‘SOME LIKE IT HOT’: Kevin Del Aguila & cast. Photo: Marc J. Franklin.