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Some Like It Hot is Back and Ready for Action
I’ve never seen Some Like It Hot in any iteration, and I have to admit, I’m a little surprised at how poignant the storyline is for the current conditions of the world. The musical production — which just came to San Diego during its first-ever national tour — gave me a mix of Mrs. Doubtfire meets Mama Mia with undertones of Chicago, and I’m here for it.
Tavis Kordell (Jerry) and Matt Loehr (Joe). Photo by Matthew Murphy
As is relatively frequent when I go into these live shows, I didn’t know what this was about. I just knew that I live in San Diego, and it largely takes place in Coronado at the Hotel del Coronado. I also know the hotel was stoked about this, as was noted when we went to the season announcement at the establishment last year.
Prior to the show, the mayor of Coronado also named January 29 “Some Like It Hot Day,” and the award was given at the hotel. Although I was invited to attend, a scheduling conflict prevented me from doing so.
However, I was able to make it to the show. While I won’t say it’s my favorite production (I probably wouldn’t even put it in the top 10, sorry), I was surprised at how relevant the storyline was regarding the current political climate, particularly since the original movie came out in 1959 and I’m surprised it was able to clear customs back then.
Spoilers to come.
Leandra Ellis-Gaston (Sugar) and Matt Loehr (Joe). Photo by Matthew Murphy
What is Some Like It Hot about?
If you’re unfamiliar with the plot, it goes a little something like this:
Joe (Matt Loehr) and Jerry (Tavis Kordell) are a tap-dancing duo who wind up walking in on a mobster named Spats (Devon Goffman) committing a murder. This winds up leading the two to disguise themselves as women, now known as Josephine and Daphne. Under their disguise, they join Sweet Sue (Tarra Conner Jones) and her band of all-women singers as they journey to California from Chicago and land themselves at the Hotel del.
Along the way, Josephine, Daphne, and Sugar (Leandra Ellis-Gaston) become something of the Destiny’s Child of the group, and things start to center around them. However, things get complicated when Joe, out of his disguise, meets Sugar as himself, and the two fall in love. Tension in the love department also escalates when Daphne becomes the eye of Osgood’s (Edward Juvier) affection, which also leads Daphne to realize they are non-binary and just as happy being a woman as they are a man.
This latter plot, in particular, actually surprised me because I wasn’t expecting it. Looking it up now, I realize the film had always had controversy surrounding it because of its depiction of cross-dressing. That said, it wasn’t until the show hit the Broadway stage in 2022 that the topic was taken a step further regarding being non-binary. Now, more than ever, I think this type of attention is what the LGBTQ+ community needs.
Edward Juvier (Osgood), Tavis Kordell (Daphne) and the First National Touring Company of Some Like It Hot. Photo by Matthew Murphy
What is the music like for the show?
The non-binary lens is no clearer than Daphne’s “You Coulda Knocked Me Over With a Feather,” singing, “Yes I have tried to love many ladies/Back when I sang in a much lower key/Now you could knock me over with a feather/'Cause, Joe, the lady that I'm loving is me!” It’s a powerful performance and a really pivotal turning point in the story. It also helps that Kordell themselves identify as non-binary.
Elsewhere, I also enjoyed “A Darker Shade of Blue,” and I think Ellis-Gaston had one of the strongest vocals of the night. Sometimes, there’s a certain sweetness people have in their tone when they sing, and she has that honey dripped in butter when that vibrato hits.
The titular “Some Like It Hot” was also a fun way to close out the first act, but I do admit, I don’t think there were any blow-outs from the setlist that people will want to constantly put on repeat.
A word of warning, as well, for those who may be fans of the original film: None of this music is from it. Yes, the movie was also a musical, but none of these songs, as far as I know, were in that movie. Again, I haven’t seen it, but looking at the track list doesn’t look familiar. Although I don’t know why this is, just be aware that if you’re a fan of the original, this is definitely going to be different.
The First National Touring Company of Some Like It Hot. Photo by Matthew Murphy
How were the performances?
Overall, I don’t have any complaints about the cast or the ensemble. Outside of the vocal performances, special props have to go to the dancing in this show. Extra props to Casey Nicholaw, who both directed and choreographed the show, so clap clap.
Tap dancing fans especially will have a reason to come for this. There are a number of intricately choreographed dance scenes, always placed well and always a happy addition to some otherwise kind of “meh” music (sorry!)
Loehr and Kordell totally crushed it as the leads, and Loehr really did remind me of Rob McClure as Mrs. Doubtfire in the best way possible. He also had some of the same vibes as Doc from Back to the Future but in his own unique way. Ellis-Gaston, as noted, had the strongest vocals of the evening, but Kordell came for her in a close second and definitely beat her out when it came to the dancing.
Edward Juvier (Osgood) and the First National Touring Company of Some Like It Hot. Photo by Matthew Murphy
Overall Thoughts?
This was a fun show. Truthfully, it felt like it might have worked better as just one act and closer to the 2-hour length of the original film. Although everyone did a great job, there were parts that dragged on in some of the scenes, and certain sections felt like they were only included to pad it out longer to fit the more common two-act structure in three hours.
Apart from that, it was great to be able to see this with the original national touring cast because that’s a first for me. Additionally, it’s great to be able to see a show in the city where it takes place, and the San Diegans had no problem hooping and hollering every time we got a mention in the script.
The show runs at the San Diego Civic Theatre until February 2. Buy your tickets, and check out the tour dates to see if it’s coming to a city near you.