Review: “Some Like It Hot” A Queer Broadway Musical For the Ages!!!

January 15, 2023
TOMMY

There are few things in this world I love as much as I love live theatre. It ultimately doesn't matter if it's a dry one-act play, a two-act door-slamming farce, or an edgy musical, but damn if a big song-and-dance musical didn't hold a special place in my heart. And a big song-and-dance musical full of tap dance?! Oof, even more so. And a big song-and-dance musical full of tap dance that's based on a 1959 movie of the same name starring Marilyn Monroe, Jack Lemmon, and Tony Curtis?! Okay, surely the Universe is just messing with me. But sure enough that's what we've got with the new Broadway musical Some Like It Hot. And wow was I in tears for much of it, and in only the best of ways.

The show stars Christian Borle and J. Harrison Ghee as Joe/Josephine and Jerry/Jeraldine/Daphne, respectively. If you've seen the classic movie then you're familiar with the plot, but if not it goes like this: two 1930s Chicago musicians witness some men get whacked. They go on the run from the mob and dress in drag to evade being recognized. The two find themselves in an all-female band where they make some life-long friends and both fall in love with someone; hilarity, romance, and shootout chases ensue.

As a whole, this production is really wonderful. It's full of big, beautiful dances, the vocals are absolutely bonkers (Adrianna Hicks as Sugar for the fucking win), and the costumes and set are absolutely stunning. But what really struck me was that the team updated the book to have the character of Jerry/Jeraldine realize that she's actually trans and feels comfortable as both Jerry and Daphne. Daphne is her chosen name that she blurts out when they first encounter the bandleader, Sweet Sue (Natasha Yvette Williams), telling Borle's Joe something to the effect of, "Daphne's been calling to me since I was little" but that they feel like both at different times. Daphne tells Joe that he can refer to them as either Daphne or Jerry as long as it's done with both love and respect. I audibly gasped, quite literally clutched my chest, and then began to cry as I realized this is where her story was going.

I was crying (and oh my, did I cry) because of how simple the moment was. Daphne spoke so simply about how it all just clicked and she was unapologetically ready to live her truth. And though it was a simple and understated moment, they didn't shy away from it either. They spoke the truth directly, brazenly, and with the confidence of a generations of Queer ancestry behind them. And the audience was there with them every step of the way. This was the other reason I was crying: it was not lost on me how incredible it must be for some Queer kid to be in that audience and to not only see the character/storyline of Daphne, but also to see an entire audience so in their corner. It was just wonderful. And yes, Daphne does also get a huge and incredible song about owning who she is.

If you're in the New York City and want a big, song-and-dance musical with an incredible Queer story, then run to see Some Like It Hot at The Shubert Theatre. You can get tickets here.