I first saw\u00a0Tootsie<\/em>\u00a0on Broadway two and a half years ago, and I went absolutely nuts over it. Of course, a second viewing is rarely as good as the first, because nothing\u2019s a surprise anymore, but this touring production, (which is appearing now at the glamorous\u00a0Dolby Theatre in Hollywood, and then moves down to Costa Mesa,) is still excellent, and I heavily suggest\u00a0that everyone see this show; it’s funny, happy, and not painful in any way. I wish that every<\/em> Broadway musical would be like Tootsie<\/em>!<\/p>\n Photo by Evan Zimmerman for MurphyMade, as is the one at the top of this review.<\/p><\/div>\n I can\u2019t imagine that anyone doesn\u2019t know the basic premise of the classic\u00a01982 film starring Dustin Hoffman, on which this musical is based, but just in case, I\u2019m here to help.\u00a0The story is that Michael Dorsey, an out-of-work actor, disguises himself as a female, Dorothy, to get a role.\u00a0 The main plot change here is that instead of Dorothy’s starring vehicle being a soap opera, as it is in the film, here it\u2019s a fictional Broadway musical,\u00a0Juliet\u2019s Nurse<\/em>, which is a\u00a0riot.<\/p>\n Lukas James Miller and Ashley Alexandra. Photo by Evan Zimmerman for MurphyMade.<\/p><\/div>\n A few other aspects of the musical differ from the movie, as well. In this one, rather than\u00a0Dorothy being pursued by a duo of older men, her new admirer is a cute, young, dumb actor,\u00a0played by Lukas James Miller. His big scene in Act II was my fave this time. (Okay, I have to admit that his abs may have had something to do with that choice.)<\/p>\n I feel like there may have been a few other tiny changes made to the script since I saw it in New York, (in maybe a line or two,) but it\u2019s really of no matter.<\/p>\n The songs by David Yazbek, (who needs only an Oscar to EGOT,) are great\u2014they contain sooo many clever lyrics. And happily, most are understandable this go-round. The second act\u00a0Jeff Sums It Up<\/em>, performed by the energetic Jared David Michael Grant, (yes, you read that correctly\u2014he does<\/em> have four names, but, at least for my<\/em> purposes, they’re all easy to spell,) as Michael\u2019s best friend, Jeff, is downright brilliant. (Don’t miss Mr. Yazbek’s amusing bio in the Playbill.)<\/p>\n Drew Becker and Jared David Michael Grant. Photo by Evan Zimmerman for MurphyMade.<\/p><\/div>\n Other performances of note are those of Adam du Plessis, as the over-the-top director of Juliet’s Nurse<\/em>, and, of course, Drew Becker as Michael, who’s on stage about ninety-eight percent of the time, (outside of when he’s off<\/em> stage quick-changing from Michael to Dorothy.)<\/p>\n The script ingenuity doesn\u2019t stop with the music.\u00a0 So many of the lines in the book of the show, written by Robert Horn, are memorable. You\u2019ll just have to experience them for yourselves, but here\u2019s a taste, (as close to word-for-word as I can remember them): Jeff tells Michael, \u201cDo what you can, and tell people that was the goal,\u201d an idea I\u2019m planning to employ in real life!<\/p>\n Another one of Jeff\u2019s bon mots is when Michael asks him if he looks heavy as Dorothy, (which he definitely does<\/em>,) and Jeff diplomatically assesses him instead as \u201cdifficult to abduct.\u201d \u00a0And I’m sure many people can relate to Michael’s plaint, \u201cIn school I was voted \u2018Who is that?!\u2019\u201d<\/p>\n Adam du Plessis, front and center. Photo by Evan Zimmerman for MurphyMade.<\/p><\/div>\n The friend I attended opening night with pointed-out that some of the details of the story are a tad confusing, (such as when exactly the fictional musical actually opens, and what happens after its opening night,) but I advise to not try to have that all make sense, and just go with the flow.<\/p>\n As to the very attractive sets, I loved watching how easily movable they are. I don’t remember noticing them on Broadway, but in case they were the same there, I have to credit both the original Scenic Designer, David Rockwell, and the tour one, Christine Peters, for all that cleverness.<\/p>\n I also appreciated all the interstitial dancing; it really keeps the action moving constantly.<\/p>\n Photo by Evan Zimmerman for MurphyMade.<\/p><\/div>\n I have only two tiny negatives here, the first of which I heard many complaints\u00a0about, both at intermission and after\u00a0the show, (and when I reviewed it on Broadway, as well.) It’s that Tootsie<\/em> is just a tad\u00a0too long. As I said in my Broadway review of it, there’s only one number I could do without, though–There Was John<\/em>, which is a totally unnecessary song from Michael’s love interest, Julie. It doesn\u2019t further the story nor really fit in with the rest of the show. But Ashley Alexander\u2019s voice is so excellent that I\u2019d hate to deprive future audiences of a solo number by her.\u00a0 She easily has the best voice in the cast, and I\u2019d love to hear her in concert sometime.<\/p>\n The other negative is that there’s no real ending. I don\u2019t remember how the film<\/em> concludes, but this musical’s<\/em> denouement is weak. People sitting near\u00a0me said things like, \u201cIs that it?,\u201d and \u201cSo, is it over?\u201d After so much fabulousness, that was just a tiny disappointment.<\/p>\n But that really doesn’t matter because every other minute of\u00a0Tootsie\u00a0<\/em>is awesome, with little downtime between laughs. On opening night, we all jumped-up to give the cast the standing ovation they deserved for the entire journey.<\/p>\n If you’re anywhere near either location in the next month or so, I highly recommend seeing Tootsie<\/em>. The friend I brought even told me she wants to see it again already! I could do the same.<\/p>\n Tootsie<\/em>\u00a0running through May 15, 2022<\/strong> Then from May 31 to June 12, 2022:<\/strong> TOOTSIE I\u2019m so glad that Southern California denizens get not only one, but two opportunities to see this wonderful Broadway musical! (As usual, all the info is at the bottom of this review.) I first saw\u00a0Tootsie\u00a0on Broadway two and a half years ago, and I went absolutely nuts over it. Of course, a second viewing<\/p>\n![\"Photo](\"https:\/\/itsnotaboutme.tv\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/04\/TOOTSIE_TOUR_0733-e1651252896201.jpg\")
<\/a><\/a><\/a><\/a><\/a>
\n Dolby Theatre<\/strong>
\n 6801\u00a0Hollywood Blvd., Los Angeles<\/strong>
\n 800-982-2787<\/strong>
\n www.BroadwayInHollywood.com<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n
\n Segerstrom Center for the Arts<\/strong>
\n 600 Town Center Drive,\u00a0 Costa Mesa<\/strong>
\n 714-556-2787<\/strong>
\n www.SCFTA.Org<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"