By Chuck Graham, TucsonStage.com
press photo
Lots of singing and dancing have been added to Tootsie on stage.
"Tootsie,” the Broadway in Tucson road show running through Sunday, March 27, in Centennial Hall is nothing like the 1982 movie starring Dustin Hoffman.
Well, yes, there are some similarities in that this show is about a discontented and temperamental New York actor turning 40 without any stage roles on his resume. But when he, out of complete desperation, decides to audition for the female nurse role in a spoof production of “Romeo and Juliet,” everybody loves him (as her, the nurse).
However, what with all the nation's cultural changes – as well as Broadway's own lengthy closing because of COVID – turning this hit Hollywood comedy into a hit Broadway musical comedy now on its first national tour has taken 40 years to reach Tucson.
That's 40 years of eruptions over culture wars, demands for equal pay, civil rights and the shattering of iconic stage stereotypes, as well.
“Tootsie” is still funny in its own way, but it has been a breakneck race for the show's producers just to keep up with all the changes that keep shaking up current events.
Broadway has embraced the challenge. Robert Horn wrote the book for Broadway. David Yazbek wrote the songs. His resume includes the Tony award winning shows “The Full Monty,” “Dirty Rotten Scoundrels” and “The Band's Visit” that Broadway in Tucson recently presented in Centennial Hall.
Given all the hot button social issues involved in this twirling gender bender of an amusement park ride, the show's producers couldn't have chosen a more difficult moving target to keep up with.
Plus, the show's credited director Dave Solomon has cast all the roles with an eye for the unexpected. He has filled the stage with performers of all different sizes, shapes, colors and genders.
Those who prefer the traditional New York look of slender white young women and dashingly handsome white young men may find everything a bit unsettling. Younger generations eager for giving actors that do have other looks a chance to finally be onstage will go all-in on the changes.
Drew Becker has the pivotal role of Michael Dorsey and Dorothy Michaels, donning the curly red wig and perky glasses. Choosing to go the all-natural route without using any exaggerated mannerisms to portray either gender, Becker is equally effective as the annoying Michael and the endearing Dorothy.
His more portly roommate Jeff (Jared David Michael Grant) and sometime girlfriend Sandy (Payton Reilly) take turns providing comedy relief. Jeff is the more relaxed and unflappable one. Sandy is the super-frizzed, over the top female.
But the real scene stealer is beautifully talented Ashley Alexandra as Julie, cast to be Juliet in the Shakespeare-spoof “Juliet's Nurse.” She has several types of songs to deliver as her character falls in love in the most unexpected places.
All of that is topped by Alexandra's deeply soulful blues interpretation of “Gone, Gone, Gone,” While roles like this don't come along very often on Broadway, we have to hope her success on this national tour will lead to her actually getting cast in a Broadway show and being able to sleep in her own bed every night.
Although “Tootsie” runs close to three hours (including intermission) the pace is quick, clocking in with 22 songs plus a good old-fashioned overture to raise the curtain.
There are several big dance numbers, as well, all with a kind of higgelty-piggelty rhythm that fits the over-caffeinated New York skyline stage design enhanced by a clever couple of interior apartment set pieces.
So you get a feel for the big city without taking a single cab ride. By the end there has developed such a good natured feeling of wondrous proportions that we leave the theater believing true love actually is meant for everyone and everyone is entitled to the kind of love they want the most.
Performances of “Tootsie” are Thursday, March 24, 7:30 p.m.; Friday, March 25, 8 p.m.; Saturday, March 26, 2 p.m. and 8 p.m.; Sunday, March 27, 1 p.m. and 6:30 p.m. always in Centennial Hall, 1020 E. University Blvd., just inside the University of Arizona's Main Gate. For online ticket purchase and COVID details, broadwayintucson.com
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