Tony Winning broadway musical, Tootsie, brings laughs to hartford, ct
By Kiersten Bjork (February 21, 2023)
Tootsie, directed by Dave Solomon, with music & lyrics by David Yazbeck and book by Robert Horn, is a comedic musical that does better on the comedy front than the musical. I found myself laughing at every other line, but found that the tunes were not overly catchy, nor did they remain with me after the show had ended. However, the script is packed with humor that makes up for the ballad-heavy musical, and several standout performances from the company carry the overall well–designed production.
Originally premiering on Broadway in 2018, the musical is based on the classic, 1982 Oscar-winning film starring Dustin Hoffman. Tootsie is set in present day New York and follows the story of Michael Dorsey, an actor who finds himself unhirable because no one can stand to work with him. Facing a world of no, Dorsey decides to try a different approach. He goes out for another audition, one intended for his ex, this time disguising himself as a woman. As “Dorothy Michaels,” Dorsey finds himself with a golden opportunity. Michaels has gotten his foot in the door, and more than that, gotten him a gig. Now, what could possibly go wrong?
Drew Becker plays Dorsey/Michaels. He brings strong vocals to the part, with an impressive upper range and falsetto. I did find that I liked Becker’s Michaels more than his Dorsey, but given the writing, it’s honestly hard to warm up to the character of Dorsey until nearly the final scene. However, I did think that the songs as Michaels showcased his talent more than those as Dorsey. All in all, I enjoyed his iteration of Dorsey/Michaels.
As Julie Nicholas, Ashley Alexandra blew me away with her powerhouse voice! There were a handful of notes that dropped a bit too low for her, at least during the night that I attended, but the vast majority of her performance was wonderful. Yazbek’s writing lends itself well to Alexandra’s tone and style. Nichols traverses a wide range of emotion over the course of the show, and Alexandra’s journey in the role was beautiful to watch.
Payton Reilly plays Dorsey’s codependent ex, Sandy Lester, and she is hilarious! Reilly makes great physical choices with her character, especially during the rapid-fire patter song “What’s Gonna Happen” that had the audience in stitches. Lester finds herself ever on the verge of spiraling into a panic, and Reilly captures that neurotic and frazzled feeling very well.
My favorite aspect of the production has to be Jared David Michael Grant as Dorsey’s roommate and friend, Jeff Slater. Slater is full of one-liners, comebacks, and quips that constantly have the audience cracking up, and Grant really packs his role full of wit, sass, and all around fun energy. I particularly enjoyed his rendition of “Jeff Sums it Up” at the top of Act II.
Tootsie, directed by Dave Solomon, with music & lyrics by David Yazbeck and book by Robert Horn, is a comedic musical that does better on the comedy front than the musical. I found myself laughing at every other line, but found that the tunes were not overly catchy, nor did they remain with me after the show had ended. However, the script is packed with humor that makes up for the ballad-heavy musical, and several standout performances from the company carry the overall well–designed production.
Originally premiering on Broadway in 2018, the musical is based on the classic, 1982 Oscar-winning film starring Dustin Hoffman. Tootsie is set in present day New York and follows the story of Michael Dorsey, an actor who finds himself unhirable because no one can stand to work with him. Facing a world of no, Dorsey decides to try a different approach. He goes out for another audition, one intended for his ex, this time disguising himself as a woman. As “Dorothy Michaels,” Dorsey finds himself with a golden opportunity. Michaels has gotten his foot in the door, and more than that, gotten him a gig. Now, what could possibly go wrong?
Drew Becker plays Dorsey/Michaels. He brings strong vocals to the part, with an impressive upper range and falsetto. I did find that I liked Becker’s Michaels more than his Dorsey, but given the writing, it’s honestly hard to warm up to the character of Dorsey until nearly the final scene. However, I did think that the songs as Michaels showcased his talent more than those as Dorsey. All in all, I enjoyed his iteration of Dorsey/Michaels.
As Julie Nicholas, Ashley Alexandra blew me away with her powerhouse voice! There were a handful of notes that dropped a bit too low for her, at least during the night that I attended, but the vast majority of her performance was wonderful. Yazbek’s writing lends itself well to Alexandra’s tone and style. Nichols traverses a wide range of emotion over the course of the show, and Alexandra’s journey in the role was beautiful to watch.
Payton Reilly plays Dorsey’s codependent ex, Sandy Lester, and she is hilarious! Reilly makes great physical choices with her character, especially during the rapid-fire patter song “What’s Gonna Happen” that had the audience in stitches. Lester finds herself ever on the verge of spiraling into a panic, and Reilly captures that neurotic and frazzled feeling very well.
My favorite aspect of the production has to be Jared David Michael Grant as Dorsey’s roommate and friend, Jeff Slater. Slater is full of one-liners, comebacks, and quips that constantly have the audience cracking up, and Grant really packs his role full of wit, sass, and all around fun energy. I particularly enjoyed his rendition of “Jeff Sums it Up” at the top of Act II.
The Cast of the National Tour of Tootsie (Evan Zimmerman for MurphyMade)
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Drew Becker and the Cast of the National Tour of Tootsie
(Evan Zimmerman for MurphyMade) |
Another strong comedic part was that of Ron Carlisle, the over-the-top director/choreographer that Dorsey finds himself working with, played by Adam Du Plessis. While the character is rather unsavory, constantly insulting the women in the room and pursuing leading actress Nichols, Du Plessis plays Carlisle in a way that has audience members laughing at the exaggerated nature of his choices, supported by the writing of the role. Du Plessis creates the perfect blend of funny dialogue with dramatic movement and gesture to embody the smarmy, somewhat sleazy figure of Carlisle.
Matthew Rella charms as the loveable idiot Max Van Horn. He hams it up, at times extremely so, but it works for the way Van Horn is written. Kathy Halenda and Dianne Manaster give solid performances as producer Rita Marshall and agent Fran Fields, respectively. The cast is supported by a talented ensemble.
Original Broadway scenic designer David Rockwell and tour scenic designer Christine Peters have created a wonderful playing space for the company. I enjoyed the striking NYC silhouettes, and how the cleverly-folding and flying scenic pieces and backdrops brought us effortlessly to a variety of locations. Lighting designer Don Holder brings a brilliant array of colors to the NYC skyline, and costumes by designer William Ivey Long, hair and wigs by Paul Huntley, and makeup by Angelina Avallone, are all enticing and effective. I particularly liked the onstage costume changes from one period to the next, and of course, the iconic red sequin costume for Michaels. I always love a live orchestra, and sound designer Brian Ronan ensures that performers and musicians are well-balanced.
All things considered, I wasn’t floored by the production overall, but was pleasantly surprised by individual performances and moments. What Tootsie lacks in memorable songs, it makes up in comedy. The solid cast is worth seeing, and you’ll leave the theatre having enjoyed some much needed laughter. Catch Tootsie at the Bushnell until February 26, or at another stop on tour!
Tootsie will run from Feb. 21–Feb. 26 at The Bushnell Performing Arts Center in Hartford, CT. Performances are Tuesday through Thursday at 7:30 p.m., Friday at 8:00 p.m., Saturday at 2:00 and 8:00 p.m., and Sunday at 1:00 and 6:30 p.m. Tickets start at $35 and can be purchased in person at The Bushnell Box Office, by calling (860) 987-5900 or online at bushnell.org.
Kiersten Bjork is a theatremaker and reviewer from Branford, CT, currently in the mentorship program with the Connecticut Critics Circle.
Matthew Rella charms as the loveable idiot Max Van Horn. He hams it up, at times extremely so, but it works for the way Van Horn is written. Kathy Halenda and Dianne Manaster give solid performances as producer Rita Marshall and agent Fran Fields, respectively. The cast is supported by a talented ensemble.
Original Broadway scenic designer David Rockwell and tour scenic designer Christine Peters have created a wonderful playing space for the company. I enjoyed the striking NYC silhouettes, and how the cleverly-folding and flying scenic pieces and backdrops brought us effortlessly to a variety of locations. Lighting designer Don Holder brings a brilliant array of colors to the NYC skyline, and costumes by designer William Ivey Long, hair and wigs by Paul Huntley, and makeup by Angelina Avallone, are all enticing and effective. I particularly liked the onstage costume changes from one period to the next, and of course, the iconic red sequin costume for Michaels. I always love a live orchestra, and sound designer Brian Ronan ensures that performers and musicians are well-balanced.
All things considered, I wasn’t floored by the production overall, but was pleasantly surprised by individual performances and moments. What Tootsie lacks in memorable songs, it makes up in comedy. The solid cast is worth seeing, and you’ll leave the theatre having enjoyed some much needed laughter. Catch Tootsie at the Bushnell until February 26, or at another stop on tour!
Tootsie will run from Feb. 21–Feb. 26 at The Bushnell Performing Arts Center in Hartford, CT. Performances are Tuesday through Thursday at 7:30 p.m., Friday at 8:00 p.m., Saturday at 2:00 and 8:00 p.m., and Sunday at 1:00 and 6:30 p.m. Tickets start at $35 and can be purchased in person at The Bushnell Box Office, by calling (860) 987-5900 or online at bushnell.org.
Kiersten Bjork is a theatremaker and reviewer from Branford, CT, currently in the mentorship program with the Connecticut Critics Circle.