SOME LIKE IT HOT On Broadway - Reviews & News Thread- Page 15

[ElainefromPLB]

Posted: 11/5/22 at 11:53pm

How is the score, really? Of the two numbers I've sampled online, one sounds like a generic SMASH power ballad, the other sounds like a less authentic version of "The Lady's in Love with You" (1939). Nothing revelatory (yet). 

Also, is it still set in 1929? Do they still go down to Miami? 

Updated On: 11/5/22 at 11:53 PM

[Dolly80]

Posted: 11/6/22 at 1:34am

Can we just talk about Casey Garvin for a while?

Who does he play? How featured is he? Any gratuitous lack of costume at any point?

[tomwsjr]

Posted: 11/6/22 at 6:12am

I was at the matinee yesterday, it was okay.  However, I was expecting more, especially from the score, which is generic.  The cast works hard with the standout being Natasha Yvette Williams, but everyone on stage is giving it their all.  There’s lots of busy choreography, which seems like a trend on Broadway, and the set is rather drab and cheap looking.  
The second act is better, there’s a terrifically staged chase scene and the message of acceptance is uplifting.  

[ColorTheHours048]

Posted: 11/6/22 at 6:51am

ElainefromPLB said: "How is the score,really? Of the two numbers I've sampled online, one sounds like a generic SMASH power ballad, the other sounds like a less authentic version of "The Lady's in Love with You" (1939). Nothing revelatory (yet)."

That’s the score. In fact, they literally re-purpose “Let’s Be Bad” from Smash with a few updated lyrics. It’s one of the better numbers in the show. Otherwise, it’s all pastiche of pastiche. A lot of words could be used to describe it - repetitive, samey, old school - but “revelatory” is not one of them. But that’s not really the point. The show is clearly intended to be a throwback and, with a couple character exceptions, revels in its own creakiness.

[Lavieboheme3090]

Posted: 11/6/22 at 8:06am

Saw the show last night, and really enjoyed myself.

The book is funny and refreshing, and the updates are done in fun clever ways that take the audience on a real journey.

The score is full of delightful big band numbers. And I especially loved how the even the secondary characters are really given a chance to shine.

I will echo what some others have said, there is so much tapping that by the time we get to the act 1 finale when the show really builds to an amazing number it does feel a bit, oh yeah we've seen this, but the chase scene is in act 2 is nothing short of astounding to watch. 

All in all a fun night out at the theater, great performances, fantastic staging, and really refreshing taking on the subject matter. 

[blaxx]

Posted: 11/6/22 at 8:58am

ColorTheHours048 said: "ErmengardeStopSniveling said: "blaxx said: "Anything about this show that can be deemed transphobic?"

Wondering this too. I’m guessing no based on the response so far? But I’m sure people will find something to complain about.

ALSO: does the show have an Overture?"

To answer both your questions:

- I personally didn’t find anything to be transphobic or overly distasteful. Slightly regressive maybe? But also, I’m not a trans person, so I can’t say what would or wouldn’t offend others.

J. Harrison Ghee’s character is treated with a lot of love and care and gets the best character arc of the night, which deals directly with how comfortable dressing as a woman made them feel. Christian Borle, on the other hand, is the butt of a good majority of jokes (some of them admittedly hilarious) at the expense of his character’s appearance as a woman. To his credit, he doesn’t lean into trying to appear as a beautiful woman and embraces a nerdy vibe instead, but it is sort of a regressive running joke mocking someone for looking… less than womanly.

- There’s not really an overture. There’s a bit of vamp music as the lights go down, but the curtain is up pretty quickly and we’re into “What Are You Thirsty For?”"

Slightly regressive is still pretty bad, especially for a community that has been so loud about respect. Count me out if this to ger a few chuckles out of cis white men in drag.

[OhHiii]

Posted: 11/6/22 at 9:04am

blaxx said: "Slightly regressive is still pretty bad, especially for a community that has been so loud about respect. Count me out if this to ger a few chuckles out of cis white men in drag."

Oh look, someone who hasn’t seen the show and despite the vast majority of comments noting how the subject matter is handled with sensitivity and intention, still won’t back down from their assumptions. And even comes complete with the cis white men buzz line! 

Updated On: 11/6/22 at 09:04 AM

[quizking101]

Posted: 11/6/22 at 10:26am

Dolly80 said: "Can we just talk about Casey Garvin for a while?

Who does he play? How featured is he? Any gratuitous lack of costume at any point?"

These are honestly the important questions...

[Matt Rogers]

Posted: 11/6/22 at 11:32am

Saw it last night. It started five minutes late and got out at 10:42.

It’s fine. It’s not bad. It’s just fine.

I’m not sure I understand what all the gushing, rapturous reviews are all about. It is nowhere near as perfect as some on here have painted it……but it’s fine. 
 

Every song sounds the same as the one before it. It gets very tedious. 
 

The person who said that this feels like an upgraded Encores presentation is exactly correct. 
 

I had thought they were redoing a lot of the plot from the film, but with the exception of the journey of the Daphne character, this is just movie-oke live on stage. Same plot as the film. Unnecessary. 
 

How much tap dancing is too much? Go see this, and find out. 
 
The chase scene at the end is a total hot mess. 

Maybe my expectations were too high (thanks again Broadwayworld members!!) but I felt this was a letdown. 

Updated On: 11/6/22 at 11:32 AM

[CarlosAlberto]

Posted: 11/6/22 at 12:23pm

Matt Rogers said: 

I had thought they were redoing a lot of the plot from the film, but with the exception of the journey of the Daphne character, this is just movie-oke live on stage. Same plot as the film. Unnecessary.

 

You certainly have a right to your opinion but this show is an adaptation of the film, "Some Like it Hot" so it's going to have the same plot as the film. How is that "unnecessary"?

If the show didn't have the same plot as the film then it wouldn't be "Some Like it Hot".

Other stage adaptations with the same plot as the film:

Promises, Promises (based on "The Apartment"

Sunset Boulevard

The Goodbye Girl

The Bridges of Madison County

Finding Neverland

Rocky

Back to the Future

Once

The Band's Visit

Kiss of the Spider Woman

and  the list goes on...

 

Updated On: 11/6/22 at 12:23 PM

[christinelavin]

Posted: 11/6/22 at 1:38pm

I was at the first preview and by complete coincidence sat next to Casey Garvin's aunt who explained to me he is in the ensemble and is also understudy for Joe/Josephine (Christian Borle). She told me how he got into theater, how hard he works, how proud she and his whole family is of him.  

Because it was the first preview I was absorbed in watching the show and following the action, so I didn't even get to see which one he was in the ensemble -- but I'll make sure to figure that out when I go back again -- and I will.  

I love this show.  That first performance I sat in the orchestra section.  I saw it again on Thursday night and sat in the mezzanine.  Next week I'll watch from the balcony. I so wish the NYT would assign reviewers to review from different sections because some shows lose their magic the farther away you sit.

But not this one. 

[yyys]

Posted: 11/6/22 at 1:43pm

I enjoyed it overall...but don't feel the need to see it again. I felt the same way with Mrs. Doubtfire, Tootsie and Mr. Saturday Night. I would put Some Like It Hot in the same category.

[BdwyFan]

Posted: 11/6/22 at 1:58pm

Can’t wait to see it again.  I love seeing a show develop during previews.  It can only keep getting better and tighter! Will go again once it opens.  

[bk]

Posted: 11/6/22 at 2:34pm

CarlosAlberto said: "Matt Rogers said:

I had thought they were redoing a lot of the plot from the film, but with the exception of the journey of the Daphne character, this is just movie-oke live on stage. Same plot as the film. Unnecessary.



You certainly have a right to your opinion but this show is an adaptation of the film, "Some Like it Hot" so it's going to have the same plot as the film. How is that "unnecessary"?

If the show didn't have the same plot as the film then it wouldn't be "Some Like it Hot".

Other stage adaptations with the same plot as the film:

Promises, Promises (based on "The Apartment"

Sunset Boulevard

The Goodbye Girl

The Bridges of Madison County

Finding Neverland

Rocky

Back to the Future

Once

The Band's Visit

Kiss of the Spider Woman

and the list goes on...

"

You forgot Sugar :) I think that may have been his point, although I don't know that. Unnecessary in that we've already had a Some Like it Hot musical based on the film.

The other more baffling comment that keeps coming up repeatedly is that it's a big band score. I believe I've read that it still takes place in the twenties, so why a big band score? Not that you have to be period specific, but it just seems weird to be period specific to the wrong period?

[pethian]

Posted: 11/6/22 at 2:52pm

bk said: "
The other more baffling comment that keeps coming up repeatedly is that it's a big band score. I believe I've read that it still takes place in the twenties, so why a big band score? Not that you have to be period specific, but it just seems weird to be period specific to the wrong period?"

Haven't seen it yet but this puzzled me too after hearing a couple of the songs. But I remember reading somewhere, perhaps here, that the time frame has been moved to the 1930s. So the precipitating event must not be the St. Valentine's Day massacre.

 

[SouthernCakes]

Posted: 11/6/22 at 3:00pm

quizking101 said: "Dolly80 said: "Can we just talk about Casey Garvin for a while?

Who does he play? How featured is he? Any gratuitous lack of costume at any point?"

These are honestly the important questions..."

Can we please do better than this. Imagine if you were two straight guys asking if a girl has a revealing costume. Stop objectifying people. It’s gross. 

[Robbie2]

Posted: 11/6/22 at 3:01pm

bk said: "CarlosAlberto said: "Matt Rogers said:

I had thought they were redoing a lot of the plot from the film, but with the exception of the journey of the Daphne character, this is just movie-oke live on stage. Same plot as the film. Unnecessary.



You certainly have a right to your opinion but this show is an adaptation of the film, "Some Like it Hot" so it's going to have the same plot as the film. How is that "unnecessary"?

If the show didn't have the same plot as the film then it wouldn't be "Some Like it Hot".

Other stage adaptations with the same plot as the film:

Promises, Promises (based on "The Apartment"

Sunset Boulevard

The Goodbye Girl

The Bridges of Madison County

Finding Neverland

Rocky

Back to the Future

Once

The Band's Visit

Kiss of the Spider Woman

and the list goes on...

"

You forgot Sugar :) I think that may have been his point, although I don't know that. Unnecessary in that we've already had a Some Like it Hot musical based on the film.

The other more baffling comment that keeps coming up repeatedly is that it's a big band score. I believe I've read that it still takes place in the twenties, so why a big band score? Not that you have to be period specific, but it just seems weird to be period specific to the wrong period?"

 

1933 - Chicago and San Diego  

[christinelavin]

Posted: 11/6/22 at 3:16pm

I should add to my post that sitting in front of me in the mezzanine was a Ralph Kramden lookalike who I suspect was a Trumper (based on what I overheard him talking about with his wife).  I was astonished that in the 2nd half, after that incredible door slamming festival & chase that this man gave it a standing O (this was already after Daphne's big song got one earlier in the 2nd half, that he was also part of).  

This was a regular guy, taking his wife out on the town to see a Broadway show -- they were both in heaven, and this is who shows like this are made for -- the general public who want to be entertained.  I was thinking while watching it that wouldn't it be great if a bunch of right wing Republicans filled the audience -- this show would do more for tolerance and acceptance than all the speeches in the world. Its heart is in the right place and its politics is, too. 

They took risks moving the story line in directions that the original movie didn't -- and I applaud them for it. I'm not part of the theater world, but every once in a while I see something that really touches my heart, and this show does. I have made a point of never commenting on a show before it has opened -- good or bad.  But this time I am rooting for this musical from the first preview on.  

[flord10]

Posted: 11/6/22 at 4:36pm

I thought the chase scene was one of the most entertaining parts of the show, and it went off without a hitch (at my performance at least). What makes you say it was a mess?

[Dolly80]

Posted: 11/6/22 at 4:50pm

SouthernCakes said: "quizking101 said: "Dolly80 said: "Can we just talk about Casey Garvin for a while?

Who does he play? How featured is he? Any gratuitous lack of costume at any point?"

These are honestly the important questions..."

Can we please do better than this. Imagine if you were two straight guys asking if a girl has a revealing costume. Stop objectifying people. It’s gross."

Keep walking…

[Bill Snibson]

Posted: 11/6/22 at 5:05pm

No. It's weird and creepy.   Imagine anyone posting..."Can someone tell me about how Adrianna's body looks in any of her costumes"...get it? We're past that!  It's gross.

[inception]

Posted: 11/6/22 at 5:37pm

Bill Snibson said: "No. It's weird and creepy. Imagine anyone posting..."Can someone tell me about how Adrianna's body looks in any of her costumes"...get it? We're past that! It's gross."

Actually I find it odd that so few reviews here or reddit have anything to say about her.  This was a film where the lead female role was played by one of the biggest film stars of its time.  She was the reason to see this film. Now that character is second or third fiddle?

[Bill Snibson]

Posted: 11/6/22 at 5:52pm

There are many posts commenting on her talents and how great she is in the role. My comment was in regards to someone singling out an ensemble member and asking how little clothing they wear. It's one thing to say "Casey Garvin is going to be a big broadway star. Can't wait to see him go on for xyz part" It's another to say "Does Casey show skin?" C'mon folks, lets do better. 

[Robbie2]

Posted: 11/6/22 at 6:02pm

Dolly80 said: "Can we just talk about Casey Garvin for a while?

Who does he play? How featured is he? Any gratuitous lack of costume at any point?"
.
He's been a hot chorus boy-dancer since 2014 Bullets Over Broadway and he's in the ensemble / Christine Borle's U/S Joe/Josephine

Updated On: 11/6/22 at 06:02 PM

[Jeffrey Karasarides]

Posted: 11/6/22 at 6:03pm

CarlosAlberto said: "Matt Rogers said:

I had thought they were redoing a lot of the plot from the film, but with the exception of the journey of the Daphne character, this is just movie-oke live on stage. Same plot as the film. Unnecessary.


You certainly have a right to your opinion but this show is an adaptation of the film, "Some Like it Hot" so it's going to have the same plot as the film. How is that "unnecessary"?

If the show didn't have the same plot as the film then it wouldn't be "Some Like it Hot".

Other stage adaptations with the same plot as the film:
Promises, Promises (based on "The Apartment"

Sunset Boulevard

The Goodbye Girl

The Bridges of Madison County

Finding Neverland

Rocky

Back to the Future

Once

The Band's Visit

Kiss of the Spider Woman

and the list goes on..."

I wouldn't necessarily count The Bridges of Madison County nor Kiss of the Spider Woman as movie-to-stage musical adaptations because they were based more on their original novels as opposed to their subsequent non-musical film adaptations.