Okay, I’ll admit it, I’ve never seen the 1980’s film this show is based on (David Yazbeck’s “The Band’s Visit”), so yeah, I was a little bit nonplussed at Moonlight Amphitheatre’s “Tootsie.” It runs through Sept. 27.
The idea is fun, though: A wanna be successful actor (male) is having trouble getting to that exalted level (as are all the other wannabes in the cast) – and there are eleven of them, including usual director Steve Glaudini, who gets to act here – and an ensemble of 13.
And let’s not forget the 12 orchestra members honking, tooting and strumming away to keep the songs going, to Dr. Randi Rudolph’s fine musical direction and conducting.
Tired yet? Me too. The person to remember here is Michael (Michael Paternostro*), fired from a Broadway gig and now trying to get back into the fold and hired for other shows. He decides the way to do that is to pretend to be a girl (yeah, I know, told you I was nonplussed), so he tosses on a voluminous dress, calls himself Dorothy Michaels and…well, there isn’t much more you need to know, you just have to watch him/her/them as they cavort around the stage trying to be a star.
Got it? Okay, that’s really all you need to know except that this show has a lot of changing backgrounds (by Christine Peters and Austin Dices) and goofy costumes (thanks to William Ivey Long) and songs with titles like “Whaddya Do,” “I Won’t Let You Down” and “Who Are You.”
Never mind. Just sit back, relax and watch all those people cavorting around and trying to amuse you. And then wonder how you can review it.
Good try, gang. Now let’s get back to “regular” musicals, okay?
Tickets: (760)724-2110 or moonlightstage.com
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