Broadway Beyond Louisville Review: TOOTSIE at The Aronoff Center

As theatre innovates and reinvents, the days of the old-time musical comedies are all but behind us. But the broadway musical adaption of Tootsie (based on the 1982 film), is a welcome and refreshing musical comedy. The story is simple: an out of work actor needs a job, that actor gets hired in disguise as a woman, and deceit and hilarity ensues.

The musical had its world premiere in Chicago back in 2018, before a transfer to Broadway in the spring of 2019. The show went on to be nominated for 10 Tony Awards, taking home two: best actor for Santino Fontana and best book for Robert Horn. The show had moderate Broadway success until it closed in January of 2020. A tour was to expected to start in the autumn of 2020, but was postponed almost a year due to the Covid-19 pandemic. The show finally embarked on a non-equity national tour in the fall of 2021, and is currently playing at the Aronoff Center in Cincinnati.

The film takes place on the world of soap operas, so it only makes sense that the musical take place in the world of Broadway. Michael Dorsey (Drew Becker), a theatre actor with a bad reputation, creates a scheme in which he takes on the persona of Dorothy Michaels in order to book a role in the next big musical, the fictional "Juliet's Curse." The only issue is that upon meeting his costar Julie (Ashley Alexandra), he slowly starts to fall for her. As Dorothy, he makes such an impression that the show changes to be centered on Dorothy's character as the Nurse, the show within the show becomes "Juliet's Nurse".

The performances from the cast are all around wonderful. Drew Becker shines in his scenes as the southern spitfire Dorothy Michaels. Ashley Alexandra has a phenomenal voice and brings a lot of pathos to the role of Julie. Michael's friends Sandy and Jeff are played to hilarious effect by Payton Reilly and Jared David Michael Grant respectively. Both have impeccable comedic timing and stop the show with their musical moments. I'd also like to give a shoutout to Dianne B. Manaster as Michael's agent Fran Fields. It's a small role, but she she makes the most out of it to hilarious results, and I found her to be a definite highlight.

The show's music is good. It's not great, but it gets the job done, for the most part. The song that undoubtedly stands out as the best is Sandy's "What's Gonna Happen", which Peyton Reilly delivers impeccably. The real gem of writing for this show is the Tony-winning book by Robert Horn. The book serves as a hybrid of Neil Simon, classic musical comedy, and only the best 90s/early 2000s sitcom. The dialogue is packed with joke after joke that the experienced cast lands with ease.

Tootsie, while not revolutionary by any means, is a damn good musical comedy. When people grumble "they don't make em' like the used to" I'd point to Tootsie as the latest prime example of an old time musical comedy done right for the 21st century. It's fun, it's light, and it's bold in its comedic swings. It's a lovely and gut-busting night at the theatre.

TOOTSIE

Now - March 20th

Aronoff Center For The Arts

650 Walnut Street Cincinnati, OH 45202.