Still More Theater Saturday - Sugar

We were given complimentary tickets to Sugar for review purposes. Any and all opinions expressed here are our own. 

 What: Sugar 

Where: Theater Row 

             410 W. 42nd St. 

             New York, NY

Who: Recommended for Ages 12 and Up 

When: Through May 7, 2023

The musical Sugar now playing at Theater Row in New York City is an earlier version of a musical based on the same source as the current new musical Some Like It Hot, specifically the 1959 movie, Some Like It Hot. Although many changes have been made in the newer musical, the older version is still enjoyable. It is funny and has some good songs. 

There were a lot of improvements made in the newer musical. For one thing, the two main male characters lack the depth of character in the older musical that they have in the newer one. In the newer musical, the character of Jerry/Daphne's journey of self-discovery is one of the most interesting parts of the whole show. In this version, the character's story arc is very vague. His sexuality is for the most part avoided, and in the end, you're not quite sure where he stands.

Here the character of Sugar is clearly based on Marilyn Monroe who played the character in the movie. Although the actress playing the character claimed in a talkback following the show that she was not trying to copy Marilyn Monroe, her performance made it seem like she was right down to the voice. The characterization makes her seem like the stereotypical dumb blonde even though in reality she may not be as dumb as she seems she still comes across that way.  In the newer version, there's no question that the character is a smart independent woman.

However, despite the many ways the newer musical has improved on the original version, the current production of the older version can still be enjoyed. The acting and singing and dancing are all very good. There are some really unique and exciting touches including a trio of criminals who always tap dance. 

In fact, having both these musicals playing at the same time is a unique experience. It presents an exciting opportunity to compare the sensibilities of today with the sensibilities of the time period when the original musical was created. It makes us realize how much the world and people's attitudes have changed and evolved over the years, and that is a good thing.

And that's our view. For more information or to purchase tickets, visit www.j2spotlightnyc.com/sugar. However, keep in mind, if you are interested in seeing the show, you should hurry and order tickets as there are only a few performances left!

Tune in tomorrow for this week's Sunday Scoop.