By Shari Barrett
As a lifelong fan of the iconic Hollywood film which has been named the “Funniest American Movie of All Time” by the American Film Institute, I was more than ready to see the Tony Award winning musical comedy Some Like it Hot in its Los Angeles premiere at the Hollywood Pantages Theatre. And given the all-star production team featuring a book by Matthew López and Amber Ruffin, music by Marc Shaiman, lyrics by Scott Wittman and Marc Shaiman, and outstanding direction and brilliantly marvelous choreography by Casey Nicholaw, no doubt audiences will continue to flock to performances across the country!
While the musical follows most of the plot lines from the original, this is a very different and modernized tale of two men on the run who cross dress as women to escape being killed after inadvertently witnessing a mob hit in Chicago during Prohibition. But this time the two men escape with Sweet Sue and her band to the Del Coronado Hotel in San Diego, the same place where outdoor scenes were filmed representing Miami Beach in the film. And the band’s lead singer Sugar Cane is not blonde like Marilyn Monroe, but an up-and-coming blues singer who has plans to make it big in Hollywood films.
Leading the tour are Matt Loehr as Joe/Josephine on saxophone, Tavis Kordell as Jerry/Daphne on standing bass, Leandra Ellis-Gaston as Sugar, Edward Juvier as the always hysterical Osgood, Tarra Conner Jones as dedicated band leader Sweet Sue, Jamie LaVerdiere as Mulligan, Devon Goffman as mobster boss Spats, and Devon Hadsell, who was a member of the original Broadway company, as Minnie the drummer who assists Sweet Sue in corralling the often-wayward girls in the band.
Blessed with spectacular ensemble tap numbers reminiscent of big Broadway musicals of years past, with fabulous costumes designed by Gregg Barnes and multiple location set design by Scott Pask, comedic bits abound along with 18 songs which forward the story and keep the laughter going. The photo with this review features the Act II opener “Let’s Be Bad” during which Osgood takes Daphne and several of her band members over the border into Mexico to drink, dance and party the night away. Kordell as Daphne is a joy to behold as she begins to realize just how much she feels like her true self while fan-flirting with Juvier as Osgood on the dance floor. The humor and evolving, deeply-felt devotion to each other during this number is a highlight of the show! This is where the plot line differs from the original as Jerry’s cross dressing as Daphne leads to his realization how important it is to let yourself feel free to be who you really are. So don’t expect the exact same ending remark as in this version everyone is perfect just the way they really are.
But unfortunately, I did not get the same sense of emotional connection from Loehr and Ellis-Gaston as Joe and Sugar during their big “Dance the World Away” number under the stars aboard Osgood’s yacht while he is in Mexico with Daphne. All that seemed to be happening is an acknowledgment between the two of using each other to achieve their goal with Joe passing himself off as a Hollywood film producer anxious to seduce Sugar with the promise of putting her in his next film and she willing to do what it takes to become a movie star.
However, there is true emotional connection between Loehr and Kordell as good friends throughout the show, especially when Joe listens to Daphne’s confession about realizing her true identity during “You Coulda Knocked Me Over With a Feather.” But ladies’ man Joe has no real interest in getting serious about any woman, while Kordell’s Jerry/Daphne is ready to settle down and stop the madness touring as a musician, whether male or female!
Broadway vet Leandra Ellis-Gaston shines during Sugar’s solo numbers, her gloriously voice and stage presence wowing the audience during “A Darker Shade of Blue,” “At the Old Majestic Nickel Matinee,” and “Ride Out the Storm.” And the three dazzle during each show by Sweet Sue and her Band with ensemble members taking on the roles of the other musicians, backed by an exuberant 14-piece orchestra.
Of special note is Edward Juvier’s first entrance as Osgood on a rolling luggage cast in the hotel lobby as he confesses to being a “Poor Little Millionaire” looking for love, with back-up bellhop ensemble dancers adding to the brilliance of this comical number.
Kudos to the entire 20-member cast ensemble who change costumes more times than I could count, keep the entire production’s energy level through the roof during the many big tap spectaculars, and portray several lead-supporting roles, including Sweet Sue band members, Society Syncopators, gangsters, porters, bellhops and much more!
With its irresistible combination of heart and laughs, song and dance, Some Like it Hot continues its limited three-week engagement on Tuesday – Thursday at 7:30 p.m., Friday at 8 p.m., Saturday at 2 p.m. and 8 p.m., Sunday at 1 p.m. and 6:30 p.m. through August 17, 2025 at the Hollywood Pantages Theatre at 6233 Hollywood Blvd, Los Angeles 90028. Tickets are available at www.BroadwayInHollywood.com or www.Ticketmaster.com or can be purchased in person at the Hollywood Pantages Theatre. For complete tour dates and locations, visit https://somelikeithotmusical.com/tickets
