Review: 'Some Like It Hot' Sizzles at The Providence Performing Arts Center

Two desperately unemployed musicians are looking for their next job. Joe (Michael Skrzek) and Jerry (Tavis Kordell) are best friends; they play the saxophone and bass, respectively, and seek a gig at the popular Cheetah Club, run by a notorious gangster Spats Colombo (Devon Goffman). They are initially rejected, but Spats gets a look at their impressive tap-dancing skills and gives them a job. Meanwhile, Sweet Sue (Tarra Conner Jones) is arrested in a raid because she's in a speakeasy, and it's the tail end of Prohibition; she gets bailed out by a friend, and decides to take her act on the road and start an all girl band.

Spats thinks three men are ratting him out to the feds, and kills them in front of Joe and Jerry. They decide (rather quickly) to join Sweet Sue's band, as she's taking them on the road and this works for both men. But here's the catch: They've gotta dress as women so as not to be recognized by the gangsters.

On the train with Sweet Sue's band, Joe becomes "Josephine" and Jerry "Daphne," and they both meet the talented and sexy lead singer, Sugar Cane (Leandra Ellis-Gaston), with whom Joe is immediately smitten. But there will be a love interest for Daphne, as well: When the "girls" arrive in San Diego at the swanky Hotel del Coronado, millionaire Osgood Fielding III (Edward Juvier) launches a campaign to win Daphne's affections.

"Some Like it Hot" was a 1959 MGM Billy Wilder directed comedy, itself based on a 1935 French film "Fanfare of Love," which utilizes the same premise. Broadway welcomed this fun and vibrant musical in 2022, and it was nominated for 13 Tony awards, winning four. Now, after last fall's launch of the national tour, it arrives in Providence for a week.

For those familiar with the classic film, the story is fairly faithful to the material, but here "Hot" benefits from Matthew Lopez (book) keeping the light comedy intact, but more than this is Marc Shaiman's music and Scott Wittman's lyrics. The Jazz influence takes center stage, resulting in some show stopping numbers with electric, eye-popping choreography by two-time Tony award winning director Casey Nicholaw.

What is immediately evident is the high energy of this musical; it literally starts off with a bang, and doesn't get bogged down with too much exposition. Everything is laid out for the audience to join in on the wild ride very quickly, and we are led by the charming Skrzek and very funny Kordell, each of whom compliments the other other nicely. The tall, lanky Kordell is incredibly graceful, whether dancing in high heels or showing us his impressive physical comedic chops. Skrzek is immediately likable, and this makes for a great leading man, especially when Joe's leading the action at all times.

Ellis Gaston can not only belt out the jazzy tune "At the Old Majestic Nickel Matinee," she's also got the charming stage presence to go along with it. Jones commands not only her girls in the band, but also every musical number or situation she's thrown into.

But the story gets a 21st century upgrade: Racism isn't ignored (it's 1933, after all), but there might be a same-sex marriage happening, as Juvier's Osgood doesn't bat an eyelash at the fact that Daphne is really Jerry. Juvier is fabulously flamboyant but also a funny and versatile dancer, and it's easy to see why Jerry might fall for this guy, despite the fact that his journey from bassist to girl dancer is a bit rushed.

Indeed, you'll be rooting for our protagonists from the first taps and stay for the fun hijinx that ensue. What was played for laughs in 1959 has more heart in this production, and it sizzles with dancing, singing, and splashy set pieces.

"Some Like it Hot" runs through April 27th at The Providence Performing Arts Center 220 Weybosset Street, Providence, Rhode Island 02903. For information or tickets call 401-421-2787, or visit www.ppacri.org.