Review: Tootsie

Hey readers!
It's time for my review of Tootsie.
Based on the 1982 movie starring Dustin Hoffman, Tootsie tells the story of a talented but difficult actor who struggles to find work until an audacious, desperate stunt lands him the role of a lifetime.

Tootsie's book, written by Robert Horn, has received almost universal acclaim and has been the garnered Tony, Drama Desk and Outer Critics Circle Awards. The book is completely deserving of such praise, and them some. The show is centred around mistaken identity, following a highly entertaining and imaginative concept. Not only does Horn execute the show's story flawlessly, but he is also able to find endless amounts of humour from within. From start to finish, the show is filled with quick-fire jokes that never tire. It is utterly hilarious and had the entirety of the audience laughing in hysterics. I personally found that the jokes were reminiscent of humour found in popular and much-loved sitcoms, such as hit 1990's television show 'Frasier'. In addition to this, I also admired the way in which Horn has decided to tackle a number of difficult gender issues that we currently face in the modern day. Whilst not a central plot point, such topics are handled in a nuanced and subtle manner which I personally considered to be careful and considerate. Horn has done wonders with the book of Tootsie, and can be credited for large portions of the show's success.

The musical score of Tootsie is written by David Yazbek, who is also known for writing the score of the recently closed award winning musical 'The Band's Visit'. Yazbek's lyrics, in particular, are superlative. Finding lyrics that can both rhyme and create comedy is quite the skill, and yet Yazbek is more than capable of fulfilling both of these requirements. His lyrics are extremely witty, which is quite evident in the songs 'What's Gonna Happen' and 'Jeff Sums It Up'. As well as comedic musical numbers, Yazbek is also very good at composing more heartfelt songs, as shown by the number 'There Was John'. After seeing Tootsie, I am fairly confident in asserting that David Yazbek could write for any genre. The musical score for 'The Band's Visit' is an entirely different musical style, and yet Yazbek has excelled at writing for both types of music. It is quite clear that he is an exceedingly skilled composer.

In a dual role he seemed born to play, Santino Fontana leads the cast as Michael Dorsey and Dorothy Michaels. In every aspect of his portrayal, I genuinely believe Fontana was faultless. Comedy clearly comes easily to him, which is evidenced by the fact that his comedic timing is second to none. His facial expressions, in particular, were extremely funny. Furthermore, Fontana is also a very talented singer. He boasts an incredible vocal range which allows him to alternate between Michael's deeper singing voice and Dorothy's high falsetto. Lilli Cooper, as Julie Nichols, was superb and created a really good chemistry with Fontana's Dorothy. She too has a lovely voice, which becomes clear through her renditions of 'There Was John' and 'Who Are You?'. Sarah Stiles, in the role of the neurotic actress Sandy Lester, gives a performance that is both entertaining and hilarious. She completely nails the role, and her number 'What's Gonna Happen' is one of the show's highlights. John Behlmann, as Max Van Horn, was also outstanding. Behlmann has a difficult role to play, portraying a dim-witted and dense wannabe actor that eventually falls in love with Dorothy. Despite this, Behlmann has mastered the role and was simply perfect in every way. The scene in which Max declares his love for Dorothy was the funniest scene in the whole show, which was largely thanks to Behlmann's brilliant delivery. Finally, last but by no means least, a special mention must be given to Andy Groteluschen, who portrayed Michael's best friend Jeff Slater. Groteluschen and Fontana create a fantastic dynamic when together onstage, and the Act Two opening song 'Jeff Sums It Up' was a delight. The ensemble of Tootsie are all splendid, and there are a number of very talented dancers among them.

The costumes, by William Ivey Long, were expertly designed. Tootsie is Long's 74th Broadway show, which certainly speaks volume to his level of skill. Dorothy's costumes, as well as the hair and make-up by Paul Huntley and Angelina Avallone respectively, were stunning and were essential in ensuring that Michael's transformation was as believable and realistic as possible.

Now for my final verdict on Tootsie. I give Tootsie...

Whilst this review is already quite prolonged, I could continue to rave about Tootsie for even longer. I adored this show, and I look forward to its transfer to the West End in 2021.

Agree with my rating? Think it should have got a lower rating? If so comment below.

Thanks for reading!

-The Reviewer