Hot Is What They’ve Got - Some Like It Hot National Tour

 

What do you get when you combine jazz, Prohibition, romance, and breaking the gender binary? Why, Some Like It Hot, of course! Written by Matthew López, Amber Ruffin, Marc Shaiman, and Scott Wittman, Some Like It Hot tells the story of two Chicago brothers, Joe (Matt Loehr) and Jerry (Tavis Kordell), who witness a mob hit. To make their escape, they pretend to be women (transforming into Josephine and Daphne*) and join an all-girl band headed for California. But where the 1959 film makes cross-dressing a spectacle, in the updated Broadway version, Daphne simply realizes that they don’t quite mind wearing a dress. This brilliant, reclaimed blend of classic and contemporary will leave you both entertained and inspired, and it’s here through October 20.

Although it deserves some grace, considering I attended the production’s opening night of this tour stop, there were abundant technical issues. Several lines were delivered without mics; the spotlights were often nowhere near their targets; and the mixing upset the balance between cast and orchestra in nearly every song. While these errors likely weren’t the fault of the technical designers (Natasha Katz for lights and Brian Ronan for sound), they were admittedly distracting from the rest of the show.

Luckily, John MacInnis’ choreography was undeniably phenomenal despite the technical difficulties. The mesmerizing partner work in “What Are You Thirsty For?” brought a Prohibition speakeasy to life before our eyes. The puppet-like movements of “Poor Little Millionaire” created exactly the goofy yet synchronized look the song called for. And, of course, there was the tap! Joe and Daphne’s “tip-tap” choreography throughout the show consistently nailed the evening’s modern-yet-classic tone and showcased the actors’ flair for dance and irresistibly endearing charm.

Speaking of our actors, the leading cast was filled to the brim with talent. Leandra Ellis-Gaston plays Sugar, the singer of the all-girl band. Her bright, crying siren of a voice is equal parts seductive and stunning, especially in “A Darker Shade of Blue” and “Dance the World Away.” Matt Loehr deftly portrays Joe’s story arc as he discovers that women are more than just potential conquests and learns to accept Daphne’s newfound identity. Loehr manages to display Joe’s many faults and still make us adore him anyway.

But it’s safe to say that Tavis Kordell’s performance as Daphne topped them all. Their singing and dancing were brilliant of course, but their acting was simply unmatched. I truly felt as if I was watching Daphne discover herself in real time. Kordell was the epitome of queer excellence and never anything short of fabulous.

In fact, Daphne’s journey and the entire show felt like a celebration of queer identity. The show didn’t ignore the problems faced by people like Daphne, yet they weren't the main focus. It wasn’t perfect, but it was genuine and, honestly, refreshing. It was a reminder that despite our previous lack of visibility, we have always been here, always found ways to thrive, and sure as hell aren’t going anywhere.

Some Like it Hot is in Minneapolis through October 20.

*For the purposes of this review, I will refer to the characters Joe/Josephine and Jerry/Daphne with the names and pronouns each character seems to embrace at the end of the story, which are Joe with he/him pronouns and Daphne with she/they pronouns.