The ‘Ol Razzle Dazzle

Get Wilder With Billy

For a razzle dazzle evening of Musical Theater you cannot go wrong with Some Like It Hot at Shea’s through Sunday. An updated version of the Billy Wilder classic film from 1959 that starred Jack Lemmon, Tony Curtis and Marilyn Monroe, it sparkles and shines from beginning to end. 

Briefly, two Chicago musicians, who are also tap dancers looking for work, find a gig in a nightclub owned by a gangster. They witness him murdering someone and go on the lam. They join an all girls’ band that needs a bass and a sax. Dressed as women, they travel with the band, falling in love along the way. The gangster catches up with them in San Diego, and mayhem ensues. Along the way, they confront racism, sexism, and along with other cast members, speak out for DEI, all with comedic moments that are sometimes hilarious. This being a musical comedy, all’s well that ends well.

When a Gig Goes Awry

In the opening number, Sweet Sue, leader of Sweet Sue and Her Society Syncopators, belts out the tune What Are You Thirsty For? In the person of Tarra Conner Jones, she is a force of nature, a large woman with an attitude that sends her band members and anyone else in her path nodding their heads in agreement whenever she speaks. The exception is Sugar, played by a stunning Leandra Ellis-Gaston, the lead singer. She likes a drop or two, dreams of Hollywood, and falls in love with…well, if you haven’t seen the movie, let it be a surprise. She expresses her longing for stardom in her song, At the Old Majestic Nickel Matinee. Her voice soars to the rafters in her lament, Ride Out the Storm.

Matt Loehr as Joe/Josephine and Tavis Kordell as Jerry/Daphne are the sax and bass players who infiltrate the band. Friends from childhood, Joe is always after the main chance, while Jerry, a Black man in a White world, is more circumspect about their choices and chances. He has heartfelt moments as he comes to terms with who he really is, and expresses it all in his number, You Coulda Knocked Me Over With a Feather. Mr. Kordell is a long drink of water who looks gorgeous dressed as a woman (or as a man, for that matter). Mr. Loehr is all nerves and goofiness as the ditzy Josephine in a silly wig. He befriends the chanteuse Sugar and becomes her confidante. He cannot sit still and zips around, planning and scheming throughout the show, without a thought for consequences, until… 

And then there is the tap dancing. They are the Tip-Tap Twins, showing off their stuff to Spats, the gangster, so he will hire them in his club. Spats is played by Devon Goffman, an Orchard Park High School, SUNY Fredonia graduate. He is great as a classic gangster in the Al Capone mode – tough, gruff, and in your face. Edward Juvier is Osgood Fielding III. He is sweet and kind of whacky, a lovelorn multi-times married millionaire who laments his lot in life in Poor Little Millionaire.

To return to the dancing, Director and Choreographer Casey Nicholaw knows how. The terrific dancers, high stepping, tapping, swinging, flying through the air in joyful choreography, bring Broadway pizzazz to the proceedings. The music by Marc Shaiman has people dancing in their seats. The show takes place in 1933. The period costumes by Gregg Barnes range from ordinary street clothes to glitzy sequined, rhinestoned gowns and suits that dazzle the eye. The set designed by Scott Pask has an art deco look in keeping with the times. Set changes are seamlessly done.

Diversity is Key

The chase scene in Act Two has some of the most complicated choreography ever and is a delight to watch. The entire diverse cast is excellent, the dancing is first rate, the music is high-spirited, and the costumes are gorgeous. If the songs themselves are not particularly memorable, so what? Some in the audience danced their way up the aisle at the end of the show as the orchestra played their last tune, an indication that the evening was a great success.