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The musical, Some Like it Hot is based on the 1959 movie voted by film critics as the best comedy of all time. During Prohibition in Chicago, two musicians, Joe and Jerry, witness a mob hit. They go undercover, disguised as women, and join an all-girl band to flee the pursuit of gangsters. Mix in song, love interests, a little self-discovery, and the razzle-dazzle of tap dancing, and you've got one hot musical.
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This show took me back to the “Golden Age of Hollywood
Musicals,” where the story was light, romance was always in the air, and the melody paired with movement ruled.
The show opens in a 1934 speakeasy. The leader of the all-girl band, Sweet Sue (Tarra Conner Jones), asks, “What are You Thirsty For?” The energy is high as girls flip backward and over their partners. Jones commands the stage with a distinctive rasp in her voice that reminded me of the singing style of Eartha Kitt (Catwoman in 1960s TV Batman). It was a wild party.
Toes start tapping when Joe (Matt Loehr) and Jerry (Tavis Kordell) recount their friendship bond in the song, “You Can’t Have Me (If You Don’t Have Him).” Watching their skill and pizazz, I realized that the synchronised steps in this show were going to fuel much of my enjoyment. Loehr and Kordell had chemistry just like that of Gene Kelly and Donald O’Connor in “Singin' in the Rain.” Ok, enough of the old movie flashbacks. It is safe to say that this show has masterful dancing, singing, and a bunch of laughs.
Men dressed as women and their fast wardrobe changes to hide their identity produced a lot of humor. There is an unexpected twist when Jerry had a life-changing discovery in the second half. In the end, every "guy" gets his "girl."
This show reaches the pinnacle of tap dancing. “Tip Tap Trouble" had the entire cast running
from the gangsters in a jaw-dropping dance sequence. The choreography fired movement in all directions
through doors, with costume and scene changes. This was worth the price of the
ticket.
Some Like it Hot takes you back to the bygone musical movie era. It sure is hot. The show, fueled by laughter and song with dancing that sizzles, will make your temperature rise.
(Some Like it Hot runs through April 15-20,2025, in Pittsburgh. Go to Trustarts.org for tickets and more on PNC Broadway in Pittsburgh.)
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