By Joe Contreras, Latin Life Denver Media
A mariposa, that’s what you are, a butterfly waiting to be born, to be transformed from an egg on a leaf to a caterpillar and into the beautiful being you truly are. That’s what Osgood (Edward Juvier) tries to convey to his new found love Daphne during a wild night out in Mexico where, with strolling mariachis, he sings his heart out to someone who truly is in a state of transformation.
Therein, lies the real story line and moral of this comedic, yet dramatic production of discovering who you are or are not and having the resolve and tenacity to pursue it, no matter the cost. Unlike the movie version the script by Tony Award-winner Matthew López gives this stage version a sincere but also comedic view of self discovery, of gender and identity, rather than just two guys in drag trying to make a getaway.
“This show is just what we need in the world right now,” said the iconic Cleo Parker Robinson, Executive Creative Director of her namesake ensemble and dance studio, in a comment to Latin Life Denver. “Life is an adventure that is meant to be fun and mysterious. You never know where it is going to take you. Some Like It Hot is all that, about exploring and discovering life no matter the consequences,” she added.
Osgood, a Latin lover type, who owns the Coronado Hotel in San Diego and another art-deco bar in Mexico, plays a small but vital part in this production of Some Like It Hot, currently playing at Denver’s Buell Theatre. Osgood does not know that Daphne is really Jerry who along with his partner Joe who also is Josephine, are on the run from a group of mobsters who are out to kill them. He wants to marry Daphne and will do whatever it takes to make that happen.
Joe and Jerry are musicians and tap dancers trying to land a gig in 1930’s prohibition Chicago when they stumble upon a mob hit and murder making them witnesses to be disposed of. Trying to make their getaway they encounter dressing rooms filled with women’s clothing and wigs.
They disguise themselves and escape. Knowing they have to leave town or die they hear about all women’s jazz band that is about to go on tour and is in need of a couple of musicians. Soon, taking on their new found female identities, they join the group, hop on the train and it’s on to San Diego.
During their various stops along the way, including a show in Denver, they hone their performance adding tap dancing to keep audiences entertained. They also form meaningful relationships with the other female band members, none of whom know Josephine and Daphne are really men dressed in women’s attire.
In this stage musical version of the 1959 movie of ‘Some Like It Hot’ that starred Jack Lemmon, Tony Curtis and Marilyn Monroe, for those who can remember that far back, there are a few twists that give this production an identity of it’s own. In the movie version there were no prominent Black actors. In this stage version Band leader Sweet Sue (Tarra Conner Jones) and lead singer Sugar Kane (Leandra Ellis-Gaston) are both Black and their integrated all-girl band now heads West instead of South. It is now the 1930’s rather than the roaring 20’s of the movie version. Joe/Josephine (Matt Loehr) is white, while Jerry/Daphne is Black.
While Daphne/Jerry embraces his feminine side, Joe/Josephine does not. He too falls in love, with Sugar, but cannot reveal himself to her for fear of what the repercussions could be. To Joe’s surprise, his pal, Jerry is not willing to give up the Daphne in him and will keep hold of it to the end. Whatever fate that may be.
“But, what should I call you, Jerry, Daphne, what I don’t know who you are anymore” exclaims Joe. “Today I may be Daphne in a dress and heels and tomorrow I may be Jerry in a suit and tie. You can call me whatever you want as long as you do it with respect”, responds Daphne in a strong tone as the audience cheers in approval.
What happens next and throughout the production is a must see experience. The music, the dancing, the tap dancing, the singing are all worth the price of admission. It is a fun and at times a scary roller coaster ride that keeps on rolling along with non-stop razzle dazzle twists and turns.
‘Some Like It Hot’ written by Matthew Lopez and Amber Ruffin, directed & choreographed by Casey Nicholaw, plays the Buell Theatre at the Denver Center for the Performing Arts thru July 20th.
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