Tootsie (NYC)

"Transferred to the stage with intelligence and style that allows the updated version to enter the 21st century graciously...Ellis keeps the show moving at a fast, fluid pace, but enables his cast to take advantage of every opportunity to cash in on the constant one liners, showcasing their impeccable comic timing...It is not so much the plot but the manner and skill in which it is executed that make this a seamless, hilarious, thrilling, joyride that never stops until the curtain falls." Full Review

“The new Broadway adaptation of ‘Tootsie’ is old-fashioned and proud of it — and it’s a surefire crowd-pleaser...The story holds no surprises for anyone who’s seen the movie, but Horn sprinkles the show’s book with clever one-liners...Well-cast character actors demonstrate their bankable skills at character acting...Each of the songs in the stage musical can make you choke with laughter.” Full Review

“This is a savvy update that manages to combine awareness of the evolution in gender politics with insouciant wit, a playful spirit and an invigorating streak of good-natured vulgarity...The performances right down the line are terrific...Everyone gets their moment. Ellis' extensive experience in comedy is key in a show in which sharp timing and zippy pacing are essential...This sassy riot is the kind of big, brash Broadway musical that gives audiences what they paid for.” Full Review

"The new musical 'Tootsie,' with book by Robert Horn and music and lyrics by David Yazbek, based on the well-known and well-liked 1982 film starring Dustin Hoffman, has transformed that cultural icon into a delightful fluff of a musical with just enough wit, theatrical in-jokes, good songs, tongue-in-cheek choreography (Denis Jones) and energetic pacing supervised by director Scott Ellis to make the stage version a completely different animal than the original." Full Review

"The issues of sexuality and gender, showing some evolution since the original, are still as challenging, but even more bitingly hysterical than they ever were, as Michael learns from walking in Dorothy’s shoes. Director Scott Ellis keeps the story flowing, the pace moving, and the laughs coming...This is must-see feel-good entertainment that deserves all of the accolades it garners." Full Review

"Under Scott Ellis’ sure-footed direction, embellished with Denis Jones’ snappy choreography, the show moves forward with the confidence of an old-school Broadway musical comedy, one that knows it’s going to make at least most of its audience happy. And for extra punch, the dialogue is occasionally peppered with a sprinkling of #MeToo era sensitivities...The score is truly just about as good as a score can be without slipping into the realm of marvellous." Full Review

“Embraceably funny...The sublime Santino Fontana not only gets to strut his farcical stuff, but also sings, amazingly well, in two registers...With a genuinely witty book by Robert Horn and an engaging score by David Yazbek...“Tootsie” is the tuneful winner this Broadway season has been desperate for. It’s a good-natured, conventionally assured book musical of the golden-age variety, expertly directed by Scott Ellis, with a clown car’s worth of comic actors." Full Review

"Slickly entertaining and feel-good in a good way...Well-crafted and refrains from constant back-and-forth switcheroos that would have been tedious...All the supporting players are knockouts...But none of this would matter if there weren’t a Tootsie to drive it all home, and Fontana delivers a star performance, with comic chops, increasing pathos and heart, and tip-top singing...Horn’s book...has the most laugh-out-loud moments in a show this year." Full Review

“This is how to adapt a movie to the stage and give it entirely new life...The creators of this ‘Tootsie’ have put forth a show that humbles and critiques its main character far more than it celebrates him...All of this is directed with great spirit and charm by Ellis, and it’s held together by the extraordinary Fontana...If there’s a problem with “Tootsie” it’s that the score by David Yazbek sticks to a familiar musical comedy playbook, bright and bouncy but not especially memorable." Full Review

“Entertaining and touching new musical...A screen-to-stage adaptation that gets it right...Fontana is a powerhouse, slipping flawlessly between genders and voices, but always with an endearing charm that makes you love his performance...It's all great fun, from the sick one-liners and cringeworthy puns to enough inside theater references...But as in the film, there are important take-aways, lessons Dorothy imparts to Michael about the trials women face.” Full Review

"This delightful musical comedy based on the beloved movie, manages to make the story of a man dressing up as a woman in order to get a job not only politically viable but wise...The music is wonderfully varied — a patter song, a love ballad, a chorus line number — and the lyrics by David Yazbek are both clever and, best of all, absolutely intelligible, so none of the wit is wasted. Robert Horn wrote the excellent book, with solid character development plus insider theater jokes." Full Review

"Working from a satirically playful script by Robert Horn, set to David Yazbek’s jazzy score, director Scott Ellis has cleverly re-imagined Larry Gelbart and Murray Shisgal’s subversive 1982 screenplay, updating its farcical concept with razor-sharp timing, energetic pacing and smartass feminist dynamics...Fontana’s meticulous transformation is miraculous." Full Review

“Even with a score by...Yazbek, ‘Tootsie’ doesn’t feel so much like a razzmatazz musical as it does a sitcom in its prime...it’s practically ‘Seinfeld: Live!’ With killer jokes to match...That farcical setup — and Horn’s extraordinary new book, which is even funnier than the movie — delivers the finest collection of character actors onstage...While Yazbek’s jazzy score doesn’t reach the heights of his work in ‘The Band’s Visit’, there are a few really terrific numbers...You will leave laughing." Full Review

"Each song, complete with entrancing melody and lyrics witty and romantic, different from the other, beautifully and often comically sung, with great characters, perfectly cast and each with a special moment...The sprightly score is by David Yazbek. The rich and clever book is by Robert Horn...Yes, this is the kind of musical comedy which will remind you of all those shows that celebrated New York." Full Review

"One of the funniest Broadway movie musicals around. It’s pretty much comedic gold...None of the more serious songs telling the emotional stories are obviously catchy or carry a hook that stays with you once you leave the theatre. That isn’t where the wiseness and fun of 'Tootsie' resides. It’s in the emotional hilarity of the sidekicks where this show does its best to not fuck it up...It won’t change the world, but it might change how musical theatre sees classic movie remaking." Full Review

"A flat-out laff-riot from start to finish, featuring a cast packed with expert stage comedians landing bookwriter Robert Horn's archly-humored gags, enhanced by David Yazbek's muscularly-rhythmed jazz score that propels his attractively glib lyrics...This reviewer was delighted to see a story about a person with privilege learning a bit about what it means to be a good ally. But, gender politics aside, 'Tootsie' is slick and professional musical comedy that satisfies as vivacious entertainme... Full Review

“Though it retains the premise of the original, it diverges smartly in both plot and milieu...Fontana gets just about everything right...Even though Horn’s book bristles with zingers, a lot of the humor is so rooted in story it doesn’t need words...Comedy rarely flows as smoothly as it does here. The secret is more than the book; it’s the songs...The staging and physical production of ‘Tootsie’ are so trite and vanilla...Happily, ‘Tootsie’ recovers, thanks in part to its excellent cast.” Full Review

“’Tootsie’ is great for a laugh...Fontana, in the performance of his career to date, stars as Michael Dorsey...This is the rare musical in which the book outshines the score. At their best, Yazbek’s songs are densely wordy and nervy; elsewhere, they are merely agreeable, and sometimes a skosh underbaked. But ‘Tootsie' is packed with great zingers and character jokes, and director Ellis’s bright, snappy production has assembled a murderer’s row of actors to put them over.” Full Review

"Robert Horn has updated the gender switching plot so that's in keeping with the world we live in. His script is so smartly written and chockablock with really funny one-liners that this 'Tootsie' almost feels like a brand new show...The highly entertaining libretto almost outshines the music. But fortunately David Yazbek who knows his way around the styles and tones needed to support a musical's story." Full Review

"Yazbek displays his usual facility for matching song to character and his lyrics are often clever — but there are no songs that jump out as something you are likely to want to hear again very soon. The book, on the other hand, very cleverly updates the basic story to the age of #MeToo, successfully changes the setting from the world of soap operas to the Broadway stage, and regularly provides a barrel of laughs. The strong book is matched by a superb cast and first-rate production values." Full Review

“Fontana was a very good choice...What Fontana does so well is to infuse his character with both comedy and heart. Still...Much of ‘Tootsie's’ strength comes from the performances by some great supporting players...There are a couple of clunky moments...The score generally seems functional, serving the plot without providing too many memorable moments...Notwithstanding these concerns, ‘Tootsie’ hits the mark on so many levels...An entertaining confection to enjoy." Full Review

"Director Scott Ellis has smoothly wrapped this musical comedy package, while Denis Jones provides the sterling choreography...’Tootsie‘ is fast and funny. Very funny, with a rapid stream of jokes and gags and some of the most mirthful choreography since those Mormon boys went to Uganda." Full Review

“In 2019, a self-righteous straight white man who disguises himself as a woman to steal acting jobs...is not your best bet for a sympathetic protagonist. All the more reason to tip our hats to composer 'David Yazbek' and book writer Robert Horn for...shaping some of the most precarious material into one of the most hilarious musical comedies of the Broadway season...'Yazbek delivers a dependable score...although it leaves us without any memorable melodies to rival...'The Band's Visit.'" Full Review

"Pound for pound the most entertaining new musical on Broadway, any caveats to do with 'Tootsie' are swept away by what has to be the funniest book since early Neil Simon...Did I mention how much you’ll laugh? In my book, Mr. Horn deserves the Tony...Alas, David Yazbeck’s songs only intermittently live up to the quality of the book. A few are catchy, several even have explicit, tongue-twisting skill similar to Sondheim, but half take the easy route and end up innocuous." Full Review

"'Tootsie' is quite a hoot. On the surface, it's a conventional musical...But it's unconventionally funny. And thanks to an A-list cast of comedians, it's the comedy that makes this one sing...Yazbek's score is still mighty clever and tuneful. His lyrics are a gas, and the inside theatre references are a terrific bonus...Humor is of course in the ear of the beholder and 'Tootsie' may not tickle every funnybone, but judging by the laugh meter, this one's off the charts.” Full Review