‘Tootsie’ Review

  by Pat Lindsey

The comedy musical “Tootsie,” now playing at The Fabulous Fox until April 2, is based on the 1982 hit movie, “Tootsie,” with many updated twists. To fully enjoy this ridiculous romp, don’t see the movie before you go. That was the mistake I made and I found myself continually comparing the two.

The premise of the musical version remains the same as the movie. It’s about Michael Dorsey, an out-of-work New York actor who can’t get an acting job because he’s difficult and temperamental. He drives every director and his agent so crazy that they refuse to cast him in any show. All the rejections make Michael so desperate to get a job that he auditions for a female role in a new show, “Julie’s Nurse,” disguised as a woman. Surprisingly, he gets the job and his career catapults. But now he has to hide his true identity from everyone except his roommate and best friend, Jeff.

In the movie, the setting is a “General Hospital”-like soap opera. That has now been changed to a sequel of “Romeo and Juliet” in which Dorothy Michaels (a.k.a. Michael Dorsey) plays the nurse in “Juliet’s Nurse.” Drew Becker is excellent at playing both roles and making costume changes at break-neck speed. He believably addresses some female social issues and eventually learns a lot about himself.

Michael’s roommate, Jeff (Jared David Michael Grant) is a master of one-liners and funny responses to Michael’s dilemmas. The first time Michael gives Jeff a preview of one of his Dorothy Michaels costumes, he asks Jeff if the dress makes him look “heavy.” Without missing a beat, Jeff replies, “It makes you difficult to abduct.”

Michael’s best female friend, Sandy Lester (Payton Reilly), also auditioned for the role of nurse in the new musical.  She is totally left in the dark about Michael’s new persona and becomes more and more neurotic as his shenanigans affect her life. Sandy discovers Dorothy’s wig and infuses comedy throughout the show with tongue-twisting dialogue and songs. She sings her big number, “What’s Gonna Happen,” in Act I and reprises it twice more during the show.

As the rehearsals for “Julie’s Nurse” progress, Michael finds himself falling hopelessly in love with his co-star, Julie (Ashley Alexandra). Julie is the tender heart and beautiful voice of the show. She finds herself falling in love with Dorothy Michaels and this sets off a whole chain of emotions and confusion for her. Julie knows she’s not a lesbian, but she consoles herself by believing she can love the person, regardless of gender. The crazy plot thickens when the all-brawn-no-talent cast member, Max, declares his love for Dorothy and displays a drawing of Dorothy’s face tattooed to his chest. Now, Dorothy is involved in a love triangle!

I spent a good deal of the first act trying to figure out what “Julie’s Nurse” was all about, but Act II explodes with Denis Jones choreography and Robert Horn’s comedy and I was able to just roll with the fun. David Yazbek’s music and lyrics are perfect for this show, but I doubt if you’ll leave the theater humming any of them. The musical number, “The Most Important Night of My Life,” was the highlight of Act II and kudos go to the cast for their fantastic song and dance.

All the characters in this comedy deserve recognition. Standouts are Rita Marshall (Kathy Hallenda), the backer with $12 million, and Fran Fields (Dianne Manaster), Michael Dorsey’s agent. Both women provided outstanding comedy and also heightened the drama.

“Tootsie” is a frenetic, but fun, night of musical theater that allows the audience to forget the problems of the world and just sit back and enjoy the show. It is colored with light shows and marvelous Manhattan stage sets. At times it rouses cheers from the women in the audience. And in the end, Michael Dorsey realizes “being a woman is no job for a man.”

“Tootsie” is being performed now through April 2 at The Fabulous Fox. Tickets are available through Metrotix at 314-534-1111 or visit The Fox box office.

Photos:  Drew Becker as Michael Dorsey and Jared David Michael Grant as Jeff Slater star in the National Tour of TOOTSIE playing at the Fabulous Fox in St. Louis   through April 2

         Photos by Evan Zimmerman

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