‘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.

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‘SIX’: (Left to right) Abby Mueller (Jane Seymour), Samantha Pauly (Katherine Howard), Adrianna Hicks (Catherine of Aragon), Andrea Macasaet (Anne Boleyn), Brittney Mack (Anna of Cleves), & Anna Uzele (Catherine Parr). Photo: Joan Marcus.

SIX
Written by Toby Marlowe & Lucy Moss
Directed by Lucy Moss & Jamie Armitage
Choreography by Carrie-Anne Ingrouille
Brooks Atkinson Theatre
(877-250-2929), sixonbroadway.com

By David NouNou

Broadway has reopened with a lot of fanfare and shows announcing at the onset “we’re reopening Broadway.” Most of the reopening shows are musicals that have survived the Broadway closure of 19 months, and new shows that have opened are the proverbial canaries that are sent down the coalmine to see if it’s safe. Ironically, the show that was ready to open the night Broadway totally shut down back in March 2020 was Six. So, the only show that has the right to claim “Broadway has officially reopened” is Six. It has definitely been worth the wait.

Here is an original musical that I had the great pleasure to see in June 2019 in London with my partner. My first thought back then was that it would be a crime if this show didn’t transfer to Broadway, to which my partner replied “would it be as meaningful to American audiences as it is in Britain?” Let me give you a resounding yes. Never has English history been as entertaining as is demonstrated in Six. It does for the history of the House of Tudor and the British throne what Hamilton did for American history—it actually makes history fun. This is no easy task in 2021, a time when some know very little about world history prior to the year 2000, let alone the 1500s. Six entices younger generations, weaned on social media and memes for most of their information, to turn off their smartphones for 90 minutes, experience live theater and learn about the past. It is also pure joy for audiences of all ages—a life-affirming, colorful tonic bringing hope and light to a city and world just now coming back after nearly two years of a bleak, dark pandemic.

Written by Toby Marlowe and Lucy Moss, the premise is which of Henry VIII’s wives had the worst lot in life being married to Henry as illustrated in the brilliant opening number “Divorced, Beheaded, Survived.” This song sets the tone and the mood that is about to unfold. There is Catherine of Aragon (Adrianna Hicks), divorced; Anne Boleyn (Andrea Macasaet), beheaded; Jane Seymour (Abby Mueller),  died of complications from childbirth; Anna of Cleves (Brittney Mack), survived; Katherine Howard (Courtney Mack), beheaded; and finally, Catherine Parr (Anna Uzele); survived.

The score is an absolute delight from The Queens’ opening “Ex-Wives” to their closing number “Six.” The sound and rhythm are both so infectious and reminiscent of the 1990s “girl power” pop group The Spice Girls, but with better voices, singing and dancing. The choreography by Carrie-Anne Ingrouille and direction by Lucy Moss and Jamie Armitage both constantly keep the queens on the move and the action never lags.

Not since Moulin Rouge has there been such exquisite costumes (Gabriella Slade) and brilliant lighting (Tim Deiling) on Broadway. Though not as epic, but still eye-popping and visually appealing. The Ladies in Waiting consists of an all-female band with a sound that makes it hard to sit still in your seat.

The six queens are all brilliant with their own unique individual identity, so it is difficult and unfair to single out one over the other. They all deserve equal kudos and all have rich, vibrant voices and effervescent stage presences. Toward the end of the show, the question is asked what was so great and memorable about Henry VIII? Let me end it with these Six exquisite queens. Long may they reign on Broadway.

Edited by Scott Harrah
Published October 7, 2021
Reviewed at October 6, 2021 press performance.

‘SIX’: Adrianna Hicks (Catherine of Aragon, center) with (left to right) Brittney Mack (Anna of Cleves), Andrea Macasaet (Anne Boleyn), Anna Uzele (Catherine Parr), & Samantha Pauly (Katherine Howard). Photo: Joan Marcus.

‘SIX’: (Left to right) Samantha Pauly (Katherine Howard), Abby Mueller (Jane Seymour), Anna Uzele (Catherine Parr), Brittney Mack (Anna of Cleves), Andrea Macasaet (Anne Boleyn), & Adrianna Hicks (Catherine of Aragon). Photo: Joan Marcus.

‘SIX’: Abby Mueller (Jane Seymour). Photo: Joan Marcus.

‘SIX’: Brittney Mack (Anna of Cleves, center) with (left to right) Anna Uzele (Catherine Parr), Abby Mueller (Jane Seymour), Andrea Macasaet (Anne Boleyn), & Adrianna Hicks (Catherine of Aragon). Photo: Joan Marcus.

‘SIX’: Samantha Pauly (Katherine Howard, center) with (left to right) Adrianna Hicks (Catherine of Aragon), Andrea Macasaet (Anne Boleyn), Brittney Mack (Anna of Cleves), & Anna Uzele (Catherine Parr). Photo: Joan Marcus.

‘SIX’: Anna Uzele (Catherine Parr, center) with (left to right) Adrianna Hicks (Catherine of Aragon), Andrea Macasaet (Anne Boleyn), Abby Mueller (Jane Seymour), Brittney Mack (Anna of Cleves) & Samantha Pauly (Katherine Howard). Photo: Joan Marcus.

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