Set in Chicago when Prohibition has everyone thirsty for a little excitement, Some Like It Hot is the rollicking story of two musicians forced to flee the Windy City after witnessing a mob hit. With gangsters hot on their heels, they're on the run as the newest members of the swingingest big band ever to cross the country. Can they hide in plain sight without completely losing themselves? Or will the mob, the truth, and maybe even love itself finally catch up to them?
At its heart, “Some Like It Hot” is all about being true to who you are. Under book writers Matthew Lopez and Amber Ruffin, the story smartly evolves the gender dynamics of the 65-year-old film for the modern day and adds in effective commentary on race through Sugar, Sweet Sue and Jerry/Daphne, now all Black. And with the pair’s writing backgrounds — Lopez penned the Elvis impersonator-turned-drag artist comedy “The Legend of Georgia McBride” and Ruffin writes for Seth Myers — the pathos is served with countless laugh-out-loud moments.
All that said, if you like a jazzy, retro night out, “Some Like It Hot,” which is now in its first national tour, has some appeal, especially in this city. It’s a fast-paced show, as directed and choreographed by Casey Nicholaw, although I found the touring version, which is smaller, to be thankfully less frenetic than the original. Among the standout performances to enjoy are the very droll Tarra Conner Jones as bandleader Sweet Sue and the journeyman Broadway player Matt Loehr, who plays the Tony Curtis role of Joe here. Loehr is one of those consummate pros who often are passed over for starring roles and yet have a daunting level of craft at their disposal.
2022 | Broadway |
Original Broadway Production Broadway |
2024 | US Tour |
North American Tour US Tour |
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