TOOTSIE - Chicago tryout — Page 7

Ticketmaster is so frustrating! Been trying for 90 minutes using laptop, phone and tablet and a variety of browsers as well as the TM app. Order either times out or says can't be completed. Tried calling but the recording says they've got a high call volume, try again later, hangs up.

Anyone know any tricks to navigate TM? I'll try tomorrow at work but there are three great seats together that I would like. Thanks.

dramamama611 said: "Does Dorothy ever blow up at the director over it in the play?"

The Tootsie line zips by quickly on stage in Act 1. When director Ron Carlisle says "TOOTSIE", Dorothy points out that ".... Max is always Max .... and my name is Dorothy ...."

Updated On: 9/17/18 at 12:56 AM

Correct. The only utterance of the word tootsie is in the title song played during a montage in the film.

Updated On: 9/17/18 at 08:43 AM

John Adams said: "I hoping for another spoiler regarding the plot...

In the movie, Dorothy's success comes about because of one role, ina singular daytime drama, under a short-term contract. Michael panics when Dorothy's popularity with TV viewers creates an offer of a long-term contract that he can't get out of. He does not want to spend the rest of his career pretending to be a woman.

In Michael Riedel's New York Post column (Early Tony buzz for Broadway-bound ?Tootsie’ musical), he writes:

While the film had Dorothy’s rise chronicled via magazine covers, accompanied by the lyrics “Go, Tootsie, go!,” the musical shows her name appearing on one Broadway marquee after another.

The above seems to imply that in the musical, Michael accepts several roles, in several different Broadway shows as Dorothy Michaels. The musical-ized version of Michael seems to be OK with a long-termcareer as Dorothy.

So... In the musical, what prompts Michael's need to stop being Dorothy?"

In the musical, Michael doesn't accept multiple roles. That is more shown as a fantasy sequence with her name in marquees such as "The Elephant Woman" and playing BOTH Roxie and Velma in "Chicago"

The creators of Tootsie, the musical have turned a perfect, sublime film into a good musical.

Overall, this is a funny, entertaining evening. It is not nearly as funny and ultimately moving as the film.

This is not a comprehensive review but I’ll share some thoughts.

The score is much more successful with the comic numbers, particularly for Jeff and Sandy. The ballads did little for me. One number in a nightclub brought the house down but did nothing to advance the plot.

The book emphasizes one-liners (many of them hysterical) over character development.

Santino Fontana is giving a thoroughly professional performance that evokes Dana Carvey’s Church Lady more than a strongly independent man/woman.

The supporting cast is stellar though several are wasted – (for crying out loud, give Julie Halston more to do and The role of Stan Fields, Michael’s agent, has been reduced to a near walk-on. These reminded me of how Jackie Hoffman was wasted in The Addams Family. And for me, when the story focused on Michael and Julie, I found myself hungry for more of Jeff, Ron, or Max.

The design is fine. William Ivey Long’s costumes are his usual brilliance.

The biggest letdown of the show was the final reveal of Dorothy’s true identity. In the film, you could feel tension rising as everything hit the fan. Without going into detail, it’s VERY anticlimactic here.

I disagree with those that say it’s ready for a New York opening.

It’s very promising. There were many sections where the audience was howling with laughter. But the creators have work to do. In other words, it’s where it should be for an out-of-town tryout.

orlikethecolorpurple said: "

The show says some wonderful things about equality and the power of women, but I couldn’t help being 100% let down that in a speech about acceptance and inclusivity, the agent character says, in an effort to display his tolerance, “hey, I have a client who’s dating a balloon!” Really? Tired."

Yes! That was disappointing.

Updated On: 9/17/18 at 02:40 PM

Observation said: "BalconyClub said:

"2. There are a few times when Dana Carvey's Church Lady character invades my empty head during the show."


Oh my goodness! YES! When I saw it I kept seeing hints of SOMETHING but couldn't figure out what. But yes, he's got some of the Church Lady mannerisms and looks going."



That was my immediate takeaway too! Like a cross between church lady and a young Dame Edna

BalconyClub said: "OK, the geek in me is fascinated with the small tweaks that appeared in the Friday, Sept 14 performance.

Personally, I am extra jealous of how many times you’ve been and equally geeked out by the little changes. Please keep them coming and especially let me know if any of the following change:

1) The corny-ness of the “generous in bed” lines. Agree with previous poster that it range false.

2) Julie’s knee to balls reaction. I felt they were trying for funny or aspirational but it wasn’t either for me. One instance when I’d rather have had more tell, less show. Maybe it’s just me.

3) Staging during final Michael & Jeff scene and also final Michael & Julie scene. Instead of the characters speaking to each other, it felt like they were speaking out to the audience. Especially Jeff’s last line which was spoken from a doorway 10 feet away. They might as well have had a flashing sign that said “Moral” overhead.

4) Why can’t Sandy have a happier ending than the “happy ending” she gets? I’d rather see her get Dorothy’s part, or any part, or even a call back for a part, rather than “Oh well, she still sucks but at least she got a man.” Boooooo!

Thanks!

Updated On: 9/17/18 at 03:40 PM

ryankon said: "There is a serious problem with Tootsie that people are glossing over: it's distressingly retro in that this supposedly feminist tale is told thru a man's eyes. Why are we so dependent on men to give us our feminist awakening? At the time the film was made this was a more forgivable sin--but in 2018 it's bothersome. Very. All the good intentions in the world don't erase the fact that Tootsie relies on a man to give us our feminist awakening. That's not cool...it just reinforces the fact that it's a man's world. It's almost an ugly form of noblesse oblige."

I get that, but I think since men have been primarily responsible for misogyny and repression of women throughout history, it seems important when men step forward and join the feminist fight. Yes, women are perfectly able to lead their feminist awakening, but it seems inspiring and meaningful when men help champion the cause also.

Plus, this is a comedy, and it wouldn't be as entertaining a story if it was about a woman who dressed as another woman to get a part...

Updated On: 9/17/18 at 11:41 PM

There is a serious problem with Tootsie that people are glossing over: it's distressingly retro in that this supposedly feminist tale is told thru a man's eyes.



YOU MUST BE DEAD INSIDE