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{{Short description|1972 musical}}
{{Infobox Musical
{{Infobox Musical
|name= Sugar
|name= Sugar
Line 6: Line 7:
|music= [[Jule Styne]]
|music= [[Jule Styne]]
|lyrics= [[Bob Merrill]]
|lyrics= [[Bob Merrill]]
|book= [[Peter Stone]]
|book= [[Peter Stone (writer)|Peter Stone]]
|basis= 1959 film ''[[Some Like It Hot]]''
|basis= 1959 film ''[[Some Like It Hot]]''
|productions= {{unbulleted list
|productions= {{unbulleted list
|1972 [[Broadway theater|Broadway]]
|1972 [[Broadway theater|Broadway]]
|1974 First National Tour
|1975 [[Mexico City]]
|1986 [[Buenos Aires]], [[Argentina]]
|1986 [[Buenos Aires]], [[Argentina]]
|1992 [[West End theatre|West End]]
|1992 [[West End theatre|West End]]
|2002 Second National Tour
|2012 [[42nd Street Moon|San Francisco]]
|2012 [[42nd Street Moon|San Francisco]]
|2011 Denmark
|2011 Denmark
|2016 [[Barcelona]]
|2016 [[Barcelona]]
|2017 Buenos Aires revival
|2017 2018 [[Buenos Aires]] revival
|2019 [[Mar del Plata]]
|2019 [[Mexico City]] revival

}}
}}
<!-- Please do not include production-specific (acting, directing, etc.) awards -->
<!-- Please do not include production-specific (acting, directing, etc.) awards -->
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}}
}}


'''''Sugar''''' is a [[Musical theatre|musical]] with a book by [[Peter Stone]], music by [[Jule Styne]], and lyrics by [[Bob Merrill]]. It is based on the film ''[[Some Like It Hot]]'', which was adapted by [[Billy Wilder]] and [[I.A.L. Diamond]] from a story by Robert Thoeren and Michael Logan. It premiered on [[Broadway theater|Broadway]] in 1972 and was staged in the [[West End theatre|West End]] twenty years later.
'''''Sugar''''' is a 1972 [[Musical theatre|musical]] with a book by [[Peter Stone (writer)|Peter Stone]], music by [[Jule Styne]], and lyrics by [[Bob Merrill]]. The musical is based on the 1959 film ''[[Some Like It Hot]]'', which was adapted by [[Billy Wilder]] and [[I.A.L. Diamond]] from a story by Robert Thoeren and Michael Logan.

The musical's name, spotlighting the lead female character, resulted from producer [[David Merrick]] being unable to license the film title. A revised ''Sugar'' with additional songs would tour nationally between 2002 and 2003 as ''Some Like It Hot: The Musical'', boosted by the casting of film star [[Tony Curtis]] as elderly millionaire Osgood.<ref name="BergenRecord2022">{{cite web | title='Some Like It Hot' on Broadway with gender-bending guys in disguise | website=Bergen Record | date=2022-09-14 | url=https://www.northjersey.com/story/entertainment/theater/2022/09/14/some-like-it-hot-broadway-gender-bending-guys-disguise/65411077007/ | access-date=2023-10-16}}</ref>


==Synopsis==
==Synopsis==
Line 28: Line 37:
Complications arise when Joe, now known as Josephine, falls in love with beautiful band singer Sugar Kane, who has a slight drinking problem that tends to interfere with her ability to choose a romantic partner wisely. More than anything, Sugar wants to marry a millionaire, prompting Joe to disguise himself as the man of her dreams.
Complications arise when Joe, now known as Josephine, falls in love with beautiful band singer Sugar Kane, who has a slight drinking problem that tends to interfere with her ability to choose a romantic partner wisely. More than anything, Sugar wants to marry a millionaire, prompting Joe to disguise himself as the man of her dreams.


Meanwhile, wealthy and elderly Osgood Fielding, Jr. is pursuing Daphne, unaware she really is Jerry in [[Drag (clothing)|drag]]. As much as he knows he needs to reveal his true gender to his over-amorous paramour, Jerry is beginning to enjoy all the expensive gifts bestowed upon him on a regular basis.
Meanwhile, wealthy and elderly Osgood Fielding Jr. is pursuing Daphne, unaware she really is Jerry in [[Drag (clothing)|drag]]. As much as he knows he needs to reveal his true gender to his over-amorous paramour, Jerry is beginning to enjoy all the expensive gifts bestowed upon him on a regular basis.


Total chaos erupts when Spats and his gang descend upon the hotel and realize who Josephine and Daphne really are.
Total chaos erupts when Spats and his gang descend upon the hotel and realize who Josephine and Daphne really are.

==History==
Produced by [[David Merrick]] and directed and choreographed by [[Gower Champion]], ''Sugar'' opened on [[Broadway theatre|Broadway]] at the [[Majestic Theatre (Broadway)|Majestic Theatre]] on April 9, 1972 after 14 previews and closed on June 23, 1973 after 505 performances. Scenic design was by [[Robin Wagner (designer)|Robin Wagner]], costume design by [[Alvin Colt]], and lighting design by [[Martin Aronstein]]. Elaine Joyce was replaced by [[Pamela Blair]] later in the run.

A west coast tour followed in the fall of 1974, with performances in Los Angeles and San Francisco. Ritchard was to have performed the part of Osgood, but he fell ill shortly before the opening and was replaced by [[Gale Gordon]].<ref>Joyce Haber, "Stardom for Morse — as a Leading Lady", ''Los Angeles Times'' August 25, 1974, p. 27; Dan Sullivan, "'Sugar': Take It With a Grain of Salt", ''Los Angeles Times'', September 5, 1974, p. I1.</ref>

== Original cast and characters ==
{| class="wikitable" style="width:50%; text-align:center"
!scope="col"|Character
!Broadway (1972)<ref>[https://www.playbill.com/production/sugar-majestic-theatre-vault-0000007833#carousel-cell207918''Playbill 1972 Bio Cast List'']accessed 07/07/2023</ref>
!First National Tour (1974)<ref>[https://www.worthpoint.com/worthopedia/1974-sugar-theatre-window-card-poster-1759336328''Playbill 1974 Bio Cast List'']accessed 07/07/2023</ref>
!West End (1992)<ref>[https://www.julestyne.com/London/Some_Like_It_Hot.php''Playbill 1992 Bio Cast List'']accessed 07/07/2023</ref>
!Second National Tour (2002)<ref>[https://playbill.com/article/peter-stone-talks-about-the-creation-of-sugar-now-touring-as-some-like-it-hot-com-107968''Playbill 2002 Bio Cast List'']accessed 07/07/2023</ref>
|-
!Sugar "Kane" Kowalczyk
| colspan="1" |[[Elaine Joyce]]
| colspan="1" |[[Leland Palmer (actress)|Leland Palmer]]
| colspan="1" |Mandy Perryment
| colspan="1" |Jodi Carmeli
|-
!Jerry/Daphne
| colspan="2” |[[Robert Morse]]
| colspan="1” |[[Billy Boyle]]
| colspan="1” |Timothy Gulan
|-
!Joe/Josephine
| colspan="1” |[[Tony Roberts (actor)|Tony Roberts]]
| colspan="1” |[[Larry Kert]]
| colspan="1” |[[Tommy Steele]]
| colspan="1” |Arthur Hanket
|-
!Osgood Fielding
| colspan="1" |[[Cyril Richard]]
| colspan="1" |[[Gale Gordon]]
| colspan="1" |[[Royce Mills]]
| colspan="1" |[[Tony Curtis]]
|-
!Sweet Sue
| colspan="1" |Sheila Smith
| colspan="1" |[[Virginia Martin]]
| colspan="1" |Veronica Clifford
| colspan="1" |[[Lenora Nemetz]]
|-
!Spats
| colspan="2" |[[Steve Condos]]
| colspan="1" |Steven Osborne
| colspan="1" |William Ryall
|-
!Bienstock
| colspan="1" |Alan Kass
| colspan="1" |Joe Ross
| colspan="1" |Edward Phillips
| colspan="1" |Gerry Vichi
|}

==Song list==
{{col-begin}}
{{col-2}}
;Act I
* "When You Meet a Man in Chicago" - Sweet Sue and All Girl Band
* "Penniless Bums" - Jerry, Joe and Unemployed Musicians
* "Tear the Town Apart" - Spats's Gang
* "The Beauty That Drives Men Mad" - Jerry and Joe
* "We Could Be Close" - Jerry and Sugar Kane
* "Sun on My Face" - Jerry, Joe, Sugar Kane, Sweet Sue, Bienstock and Ensemble
* "November Song" - Millionaires and Osgood Fielding Jr.
* "Sugar - Jerry and Joe
{{col-break}}
;Act II
* "Hey, Why Not!" - Sugar Kane and Ensemble
* "Beautiful Through and Through" - Osgood Fielding Jr. and Jerry
* "What Do You Give to a Man Who's Had Everything?" - Joe and Sugar Kane
* "Magic Nights" - Jerry
* "It's Always Love" - Joe
* "When You Meet a Man in Chicago" - Jerry, Joe, Sugar Kane, Sweet Sue, All Girl Band and Chorus Line
A final song, "People in My Life" (Sugar), was taken out during the previews, but has appeared in some later productions.
{{col-end}}

The 1992 West End production released a cast recording. <ref>[https://music.apple.com/us/album/some-like-it-hot-original-london-cast-recording/286668643 ''Apple Music'' Some Like It Hot Album] accessed 97/08/2023</ref>


==Productions==
==Productions==
In 1974 the [[Casa Mañana|Casa Mañana Theatre]] in Dallas staged a production of ''Sugar'' starring [[Scott Jarvis (actor)|Scott Jarvis]] as Jerry/Daphne, [[Joseph Evans (tenor)|Joey Evans]] as Joe/"Josephine", and Persis Forster as Sugar Kane.<ref>{{cite news|title=New Girls?|work=[[Arlington Citizen Journal]]|date= June 20, 1974|page= 6}}</ref> Jarvis had worked as Robert Morse's [[Understudy|standby]] during the Broadway run, and had played the part on occasion during its New York run.<ref>{{cite journal|title=Sugar|journal=Theatre World|volume=29|year=1972|editor=John A. Willis|author=Daniel C. Blum|publisher=[[Crown Publishing Company]]|page=82}}</ref>
Produced by [[David Merrick]] and directed and choreographed by [[Gower Champion]], ''Sugar'' opened on [[Broadway theatre|Broadway]] at the [[Majestic Theatre (Broadway)|Majestic Theatre]] on April 9, 1972 after 14 previews and closed on June 23, 1973 after 505 performances. The opening night cast included [[Robert Morse]] as Jerry/Daphne, [[Tony Roberts (actor)|Tony Roberts]] as Joe/Josephine, [[Elaine Joyce]] as Sugar Kane, [[Cyril Ritchard]] as Osgood Fielding, Jr., Sheila Smith as Sweet Sue, and Steve Condos as Spats Palazzo. Scenic design was by [[Robin Wagner (designer)|Robin Wagner]], costume design by [[Alvin Colt]], and lighting design by [[Martin Aronstein]]. Elaine Joyce was replaced by [[Pamela Blair]] later in the run.

In 1975, a version was produced in the [[Teatro de los Insurgentes]] of [[Mexico City]]. It starred the singer [[Enrique Guzmán]] and the actors [[Héctor Bonilla]] (alternando con [[Chabelo|Xavier López "Chabelo"]]) and [[Sylvia Pasquel]]. Due to the tremendous success, the musical was staged in [[Madrid]], [[Spain]] two years later with the majority of the original cast of Mexico.<ref>[http://www.redteatral.net/versiones-musicales-sugar-372 ''RedTeatral.net: Sugar (México)'']</ref>

In 1986 a successful production was staged at the Teatro Lola Membrives in [[Buenos Aires]], Argentina. [[Susana Giménez]] as Sugar Kane, [[Arturo Puig]] as Joe/Josephine and [[Ricardo Darín]] as Jerry/Daphne was the stars of this version accompanied by [[Norma Pons]] and [[Ambar La Fox]], with [[Gogó Andreu]] as Osgood Fielding Jr. The director of this production, which closed three years later in 1988, was [[Mario Morgan]].<ref>[https://www.redteatral.net/versiones-musicales-sugar-376 ''Sugar'' (in Argentina)], RedTeatral.net. Accessed August 18, 2023.</ref>


In 1990, a production of “Sugar” was staged at the theatre [[Pozorište na Terazijama]] in [[Belgrade]], then [[Yugoslavia]] (modern day [[Serbia]]), under the title ''Some like it hot'' (''Neki to vole vruće''). The show was directed by [[Soja Jovanović]], with [[Svetislav Goncić]] as Jerry/Daphne, [[Rade Marjanović]] as Joe/Josephine, and [[Ivana Mihić]] In the titular role of Sugar. The production was a smashing success, and went on to become the longest running production in the history of theatre in Serbia, continuously running for over 30 years, and is still running to this day. Over the years, almost all of the original cast members have left the show, except for the two principals in the roles of Jerry and Joe, who were the ones most responsible for the enduring success of the production. In 2022, Marjanović stepped down from the part of Joe and took over the part of Bienstok, with Žarko Stepanov taking on the part of Joe.<ref>[https://pozoristeterazije.com/predstave/neki-to-vole-vruce/ ‘’Pozorište na Terazijama: Some Like It Hot'' (in Serbia)], pozoristeterazije.com. Accessed August 18, 2023.</ref>
In 1975 a version was produced in the [[Teatro de los Insurgentes]] of [[Mexico City]]. It was starred by the singer [[Enrique Guzmán]] and the actors [[Héctor Bonilla]] (alternando con [[Chabelo|Xavier López "Chabelo"]]) and [[Sylvia Pasquel]]. Due to the tremendous success, the musical was staged in [[Madrid]], [[Spain]] two years later with the majority of the original cast of Mexico.<ref>[http://www.redteatral.net/versiones-musicales-sugar-372 ''RedTeatral.net: Sugar (México)'']</ref>


The [[West End theatre|West End]] production, starring [[Tommy Steele]], opened at the [[Prince Edward Theatre]] on March 19, 1992 and closed on June 20, 1992. The production reverted to the film's title of ''Some Like It Hot.''<ref>[http://www.thisistheatre.com/shows/princeedward46.html "Prince Edward Theatre listing"] thisistheatre.com</ref>
The [[West End theatre|West End]] production, starring [[Tommy Steele]], opened at the [[Prince Edward Theatre]] on March 19, 1992 and closed on June 20, 1992. The production reverted to the film's title of ''Some Like It Hot.''<ref>[http://www.thisistheatre.com/shows/princeedward46.html "Prince Edward Theatre listing"] thisistheatre.com</ref>


A 2002-03 United States national tour starred [[Tony Curtis]] as Osgood Fielding, Jr. in a revised production, titled ''Some Like It Hot: The Musical.''<ref>[https://web.archive.org/web/20030703003909/http://owendaly.com/jeff/SLIH/press/index.html Tour information] owendaly.com</ref><ref>Garcia, John.[http://www.talkinbroadway.com/regional/dallas/dallas68.html "ReviewDallas"], talkinbroadway.com, July 21, 2002</ref><ref>Perry, Claudia.[http://www.aislesay.com/PA-SOME.html "Some Like It Hot"], Aisle Say, Philadelphia, April 2002</ref> Curtis had played Joe in the original film. This national tour wardrobe is on display at the Costume World Broadway Collection in Pompano Beach, Florida.
A 2002-03 United States national tour starred [[Tony Curtis]] as Osgood Fielding Jr. in a revised production, titled ''Some Like It Hot: The Musical.''<ref>[https://web.archive.org/web/20030703003909/http://owendaly.com/jeff/SLIH/press/index.html Tour information] owendaly.com</ref><ref>Garcia, John.[http://www.talkinbroadway.com/regional/dallas/dallas68.html "ReviewDallas"], talkinbroadway.com, July 21, 2002</ref><ref>Perry, Claudia.[http://www.aislesay.com/PA-SOME.html "Some Like It Hot"], Aisle Say, Philadelphia, April 2002</ref> Curtis had played Joe in the original film. This national tour wardrobe is on display at the Costume World Broadway Collection in Pompano Beach, Florida.


A new production of the show ran at the Westchester Broadway Theatre in [[Elmsford, New York]] April 2010 through July 2010.<ref>[http://www.theatermania.com/new-york/shows/sugar_167422/ " 'Sugar' at Westchester Broadway Theatre"] theatermania.com, accessed March 12, 2012</ref>
A new production of the show ran at the Westchester Broadway Theatre in [[Elmsford, New York]] April 2010 through July 2010.<ref>[http://www.theatermania.com/new-york/shows/sugar_167422/ " 'Sugar' at Westchester Broadway Theatre"] theatermania.com, accessed March 12, 2012</ref>
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On March 6, 2011, Musical Theatre West in [[Long Beach, California]] presented a staged concert version of the show, as part of the Reiner Reading Series with Larry Raben ([[Forever Plaid]]), Bets Malone ([[The Marvelous Wonderettes]]) and Nick Santa Maria ([[The Producers (musical)]]).<ref>[http://www.musical.org/musicaltheatrewest/sugar2011.html "' Sugar" listing"] musical.org, accessed March 12, 2012</ref>
On March 6, 2011, Musical Theatre West in [[Long Beach, California]] presented a staged concert version of the show, as part of the Reiner Reading Series with Larry Raben ([[Forever Plaid]]), Bets Malone ([[The Marvelous Wonderettes]]) and Nick Santa Maria ([[The Producers (musical)]]).<ref>[http://www.musical.org/musicaltheatrewest/sugar2011.html "' Sugar" listing"] musical.org, accessed March 12, 2012</ref>


A Danish production of the show ran in 2011 at Folketeateret in [[Copenhagen]] under the title "Ingen er Fuldkommen" ("Nobody's Perfect"). The show opened in October and starred Danish musical actress [[Maria Lucia]].<ref>{{cite web|title=SUGAR @ Folketeatret|url=http://anmelderiet.dk/2011/09/15/sugar-folketeatret/|accessdate=24 November 2015|language=Danish}}</ref>
A Danish production of the show ran in 2011 at Folketeateret in [[Copenhagen]] under the title "Ingen er Fuldkommen" ("Nobody's Perfect"). The show opened in October and starred Danish musical actress [[Maria Lucia]].<ref>{{cite web|title=SUGAR @ Folketeatret|url=http://anmelderiet.dk/2011/09/15/sugar-folketeatret/|access-date=24 November 2015|language=da|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151125045611/http://anmelderiet.dk/2011/09/15/sugar-folketeatret/|archive-date=2015-11-25|url-status=dead}}</ref>


[[42nd Street Moon]] presented ''Sugar'' as part of its 19th Season, April 4–22, 2012.<ref>{{cite web|title=Sugar|url=http://www.42ndstmoon.org/sugar|publisher=42nd Street Moon|accessdate=April 12, 2012}}</ref>
[[42nd Street Moon]] presented ''Sugar'' as part of its 19th Season, April 4–22, 2012.<ref>{{cite web|title=Sugar|url=http://www.42ndstmoon.org/sugar|publisher=42nd Street Moon|access-date=April 12, 2012}}</ref>


In 2016 started a new production of the musical in Barcelona, Spain. The whole play was translated into Spanish and Catalan and had been in theaters until April 2018.
In 2016 started a new production of the musical in Barcelona, Spain. The whole play was translated into Spanish and Catalan and had been in theaters until April 2018.


In 2019, the musical is returning to [[Teatro de los Insurgentes]], in [[Mexico City]], to be premiered on October 17. The cast includes famous Mexican actors like [[Arath de la Torre]] and [[Ariel Miramontes]].
==Song list==
{{col-begin}}
{{col-2}}
;Act I
* When You Meet a Man in Chicago - Sweet Sue and All Girl Band
* Penniless Bums - Jerry, Joe and Unemployed Musicians
* Tear the Town Apart - Spats's Gang
* The Beauty That Drives Men Mad - Jerry and Joe
* We Could Be Close - Jerry and Sugar Kane
* Sun on My Face - Jerry, Joe, Sugar Kane, Sweet Sue, Bienstock and Ensemble
* November Song - Millionaires and Osgood Fielding, Jr.
* Sugar - Jerry and Joe
{{col-break}}
;Act II
* Hey, Why Not! - Sugar Kane and Ensemble
* Beautiful Through and Through - Osgood Fielding, Jr. and Jerry
* What Do You Give to a Man Who's Had Everything? - Joe and Sugar Kane
* Magic Nights - Jerry
* It's Always Love - Joe
* When You Meet a Man in Chicago Reprise - Jerry, Joe, Sugar Kane, Sweet Sue, All Girl Band and Chorus Line
A final song, "People In My Life" (Sugar) was taken out during the previews, but has appeared in some later productions.
{{col-end}}


==Critical reception==
==Critical reception==
In his review of the Broadway production, ''[[Time (magazine)|Time]]'' theatre critic T.E. Kalem thought the musical "has been so thoroughly processed, refined and filtered that it has lost the natural energy that makes a good musical strong and healthy." He added, "If hummable songs are a plus, Jule Styne's songs are hummable, though you may not know quite which homogenized number you are humming. As for Bob Merrill's lyrics, they are the labored products of a man hovering over a rhyming dictionary. ''Sugar'' is almost a textbook case of a musical born after its time. It may well enjoy great wads of audience favor. But in the past three years, ''[[Company (musical)|Company]]'' and ''[[Follies]]'' have altered the critical perspective by providing a musical form that is spare, intelligent, ironic, mature and capable of sustaining three-dimensional characters." He concluded, "This is not to say that the big, old-fashioned musical is irrevocably doomed, but it must have a singular mood, manner and meaning all its own. Otherwise, all that remains, as ''Sugar'' indicates, is a sterile display of high-gloss techniques."<ref>[http://www.time.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,943397,00.html?promoid=googlep ''Time'' review, April 24, 1972]</ref>
In his review of the Broadway production, ''[[Time (magazine)|Time]]'' theatre critic T.E. Kalem thought the musical "has been so thoroughly processed, refined and filtered that it has lost the natural energy that makes a good musical strong and healthy." He added, "If hummable songs are a plus, Jule Styne's songs are hummable, though you may not know quite which homogenized number you are humming. As for Bob Merrill's lyrics, they are the labored products of a man hovering over a rhyming dictionary. ''Sugar'' is almost a textbook case of a musical born after its time. It may well enjoy great wads of audience favor. But in the past three years, ''[[Company (musical)|Company]]'' and ''[[Follies]]'' have altered the critical perspective by providing a musical form that is spare, intelligent, ironic, mature and capable of sustaining three-dimensional characters." He concluded, "This is not to say that the big, old-fashioned musical is irrevocably doomed, but it must have a singular mood, manner and meaning all its own. Otherwise, all that remains, as ''Sugar'' indicates, is a sterile display of high-gloss techniques."<ref>[https://web.archive.org/web/20080309200149/http://www.time.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,943397,00.html?promoid=googlep ''Time'' review, April 24, 1972]</ref>


Dyan McBride, director of a 2012 San Francisco production of the musical, noted in an interview that "Written in 1972, ''Sugar'' really has one of the last Golden Age of Broadway scores.... You can feel contemporary Broadway starting to come.... This is not a rock 'n' roll score; this is really a jazzy score. But you can start to hear things changing; there's a little bit of lounge, and you can hear some Bob Goulet."<ref>{{cite web|last=Janiak|first=Lily|title=''Sugar'' Director Dyan McBride Talks About Making ''Some Like It Hot'' a Musical|url=http://blogs.sfweekly.com/exhibitionist/2012/04/interview_with_dyan_mcbride_di.php|publisher=SFWeekly|accessdate=7 April 2013|date=4 April 2012}}</ref>
Dyan McBride, director of a 2012 San Francisco production of the musical, noted in an interview that "Written in 1972, ''Sugar'' really has one of the last Golden Age of Broadway scores.... You can feel contemporary Broadway starting to come.... This is not a rock 'n' roll score; this is really a jazzy score. But you can start to hear things changing; there's a little bit of lounge, and you can hear some Bob Goulet."<ref>{{cite web|last=Janiak|first=Lily|title=''Sugar'' Director Dyan McBride Talks About Making ''Some Like It Hot'' a Musical|url=http://blogs.sfweekly.com/exhibitionist/2012/04/interview_with_dyan_mcbride_di.php|publisher=SFWeekly|access-date=7 April 2013|date=4 April 2012}}</ref>


==Awards and nominations==
==Awards and nominations==
;Original Broadway production

===Original Broadway production===
{| class="wikitable" width="95%"
{| class="wikitable" width="95%"
|-
|-
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| {{won}}
| {{won}}
|}
|}

==See also==
*''[[Some Like It Hot (musical)|Some Like It Hot]]'', 2022 musical based on the same source material, but some plot details changed.


==References==
==References==
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[[Category:West End musicals]]
[[Category:West End musicals]]
[[Category:Musicals based on films]]
[[Category:Musicals based on films]]
[[Category:Musicals by Jule Styne]]
[[Category:Musicals by Peter Stone]]
[[Category:Musicals set in hotels]]
[[Category:Musicals set in Florida]]

Latest revision as of 01:51, 5 October 2024

Sugar
Original cast recording
MusicJule Styne
LyricsBob Merrill
BookPeter Stone
Basis1959 film Some Like It Hot
Productions

Sugar is a 1972 musical with a book by Peter Stone, music by Jule Styne, and lyrics by Bob Merrill. The musical is based on the 1959 film Some Like It Hot, which was adapted by Billy Wilder and I.A.L. Diamond from a story by Robert Thoeren and Michael Logan.

The musical's name, spotlighting the lead female character, resulted from producer David Merrick being unable to license the film title. A revised Sugar with additional songs would tour nationally between 2002 and 2003 as Some Like It Hot: The Musical, boosted by the casting of film star Tony Curtis as elderly millionaire Osgood.[1]

Synopsis

[edit]

Two unemployed musicians, bass player Jerry and saxophone player Joe, witness the St. Valentine's Day Massacre in Chicago. In order to escape gangster Spats Palazzo and his henchmen, they dress as women and join Sweet Sue and Her Society Syncopaters, an all-female band about to leave town for an engagement at a Miami Beach hotel.

Complications arise when Joe, now known as Josephine, falls in love with beautiful band singer Sugar Kane, who has a slight drinking problem that tends to interfere with her ability to choose a romantic partner wisely. More than anything, Sugar wants to marry a millionaire, prompting Joe to disguise himself as the man of her dreams.

Meanwhile, wealthy and elderly Osgood Fielding Jr. is pursuing Daphne, unaware she really is Jerry in drag. As much as he knows he needs to reveal his true gender to his over-amorous paramour, Jerry is beginning to enjoy all the expensive gifts bestowed upon him on a regular basis.

Total chaos erupts when Spats and his gang descend upon the hotel and realize who Josephine and Daphne really are.

History

[edit]

Produced by David Merrick and directed and choreographed by Gower Champion, Sugar opened on Broadway at the Majestic Theatre on April 9, 1972 after 14 previews and closed on June 23, 1973 after 505 performances. Scenic design was by Robin Wagner, costume design by Alvin Colt, and lighting design by Martin Aronstein. Elaine Joyce was replaced by Pamela Blair later in the run.

A west coast tour followed in the fall of 1974, with performances in Los Angeles and San Francisco. Ritchard was to have performed the part of Osgood, but he fell ill shortly before the opening and was replaced by Gale Gordon.[2]

Original cast and characters

[edit]
Character Broadway (1972)[3] First National Tour (1974)[4] West End (1992)[5] Second National Tour (2002)[6]
Sugar "Kane" Kowalczyk Elaine Joyce Leland Palmer Mandy Perryment Jodi Carmeli
Jerry/Daphne Robert Morse Billy Boyle Timothy Gulan
Joe/Josephine Tony Roberts Larry Kert Tommy Steele Arthur Hanket
Osgood Fielding Cyril Richard Gale Gordon Royce Mills Tony Curtis
Sweet Sue Sheila Smith Virginia Martin Veronica Clifford Lenora Nemetz
Spats Steve Condos Steven Osborne William Ryall
Bienstock Alan Kass Joe Ross Edward Phillips Gerry Vichi

Song list

[edit]

The 1992 West End production released a cast recording. [7]

Productions

[edit]

In 1974 the Casa Mañana Theatre in Dallas staged a production of Sugar starring Scott Jarvis as Jerry/Daphne, Joey Evans as Joe/"Josephine", and Persis Forster as Sugar Kane.[8] Jarvis had worked as Robert Morse's standby during the Broadway run, and had played the part on occasion during its New York run.[9]

In 1975, a version was produced in the Teatro de los Insurgentes of Mexico City. It starred the singer Enrique Guzmán and the actors Héctor Bonilla (alternando con Xavier López "Chabelo") and Sylvia Pasquel. Due to the tremendous success, the musical was staged in Madrid, Spain two years later with the majority of the original cast of Mexico.[10]

In 1986 a successful production was staged at the Teatro Lola Membrives in Buenos Aires, Argentina. Susana Giménez as Sugar Kane, Arturo Puig as Joe/Josephine and Ricardo Darín as Jerry/Daphne was the stars of this version accompanied by Norma Pons and Ambar La Fox, with Gogó Andreu as Osgood Fielding Jr. The director of this production, which closed three years later in 1988, was Mario Morgan.[11]

In 1990, a production of “Sugar” was staged at the theatre Pozorište na Terazijama in Belgrade, then Yugoslavia (modern day Serbia), under the title Some like it hot (Neki to vole vruće). The show was directed by Soja Jovanović, with Svetislav Goncić as Jerry/Daphne, Rade Marjanović as Joe/Josephine, and Ivana Mihić In the titular role of Sugar. The production was a smashing success, and went on to become the longest running production in the history of theatre in Serbia, continuously running for over 30 years, and is still running to this day. Over the years, almost all of the original cast members have left the show, except for the two principals in the roles of Jerry and Joe, who were the ones most responsible for the enduring success of the production. In 2022, Marjanović stepped down from the part of Joe and took over the part of Bienstok, with Žarko Stepanov taking on the part of Joe.[12]

The West End production, starring Tommy Steele, opened at the Prince Edward Theatre on March 19, 1992 and closed on June 20, 1992. The production reverted to the film's title of Some Like It Hot.[13]

A 2002-03 United States national tour starred Tony Curtis as Osgood Fielding Jr. in a revised production, titled Some Like It Hot: The Musical.[14][15][16] Curtis had played Joe in the original film. This national tour wardrobe is on display at the Costume World Broadway Collection in Pompano Beach, Florida.

A new production of the show ran at the Westchester Broadway Theatre in Elmsford, New York April 2010 through July 2010.[17]

In February/March 2011 Pimlico Opera presented a new production in Great Britain at Send Prison in Surrey. The cast included professional actors and inmates.[18]

On March 6, 2011, Musical Theatre West in Long Beach, California presented a staged concert version of the show, as part of the Reiner Reading Series with Larry Raben (Forever Plaid), Bets Malone (The Marvelous Wonderettes) and Nick Santa Maria (The Producers (musical)).[19]

A Danish production of the show ran in 2011 at Folketeateret in Copenhagen under the title "Ingen er Fuldkommen" ("Nobody's Perfect"). The show opened in October and starred Danish musical actress Maria Lucia.[20]

42nd Street Moon presented Sugar as part of its 19th Season, April 4–22, 2012.[21]

In 2016 started a new production of the musical in Barcelona, Spain. The whole play was translated into Spanish and Catalan and had been in theaters until April 2018.

In 2019, the musical is returning to Teatro de los Insurgentes, in Mexico City, to be premiered on October 17. The cast includes famous Mexican actors like Arath de la Torre and Ariel Miramontes.

Critical reception

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In his review of the Broadway production, Time theatre critic T.E. Kalem thought the musical "has been so thoroughly processed, refined and filtered that it has lost the natural energy that makes a good musical strong and healthy." He added, "If hummable songs are a plus, Jule Styne's songs are hummable, though you may not know quite which homogenized number you are humming. As for Bob Merrill's lyrics, they are the labored products of a man hovering over a rhyming dictionary. Sugar is almost a textbook case of a musical born after its time. It may well enjoy great wads of audience favor. But in the past three years, Company and Follies have altered the critical perspective by providing a musical form that is spare, intelligent, ironic, mature and capable of sustaining three-dimensional characters." He concluded, "This is not to say that the big, old-fashioned musical is irrevocably doomed, but it must have a singular mood, manner and meaning all its own. Otherwise, all that remains, as Sugar indicates, is a sterile display of high-gloss techniques."[22]

Dyan McBride, director of a 2012 San Francisco production of the musical, noted in an interview that "Written in 1972, Sugar really has one of the last Golden Age of Broadway scores.... You can feel contemporary Broadway starting to come.... This is not a rock 'n' roll score; this is really a jazzy score. But you can start to hear things changing; there's a little bit of lounge, and you can hear some Bob Goulet."[23]

Awards and nominations

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Original Broadway production
Year Award Category Nominee Result
1973 Tony Award Best Musical Nominated
Best Performance by a Leading Actor in a Musical Robert Morse Nominated
Best Direction of a Musical Gower Champion Nominated
Best Choreography Nominated
Drama Desk Award Outstanding Actor in a Musical Robert Morse Won
Theatre World Award Elaine Joyce Won

See also

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  • Some Like It Hot, 2022 musical based on the same source material, but some plot details changed.

References

[edit]
  1. ^ "'Some Like It Hot' on Broadway with gender-bending guys in disguise". Bergen Record. 2022-09-14. Retrieved 2023-10-16.
  2. ^ Joyce Haber, "Stardom for Morse — as a Leading Lady", Los Angeles Times August 25, 1974, p. 27; Dan Sullivan, "'Sugar': Take It With a Grain of Salt", Los Angeles Times, September 5, 1974, p. I1.
  3. ^ Playbill 1972 Bio Cast Listaccessed 07/07/2023
  4. ^ Playbill 1974 Bio Cast Listaccessed 07/07/2023
  5. ^ Playbill 1992 Bio Cast Listaccessed 07/07/2023
  6. ^ Playbill 2002 Bio Cast Listaccessed 07/07/2023
  7. ^ Apple Music Some Like It Hot Album accessed 97/08/2023
  8. ^ "New Girls?". Arlington Citizen Journal. June 20, 1974. p. 6.
  9. ^ Daniel C. Blum (1972). John A. Willis (ed.). "Sugar". Theatre World. 29. Crown Publishing Company: 82.
  10. ^ RedTeatral.net: Sugar (México)
  11. ^ Sugar (in Argentina), RedTeatral.net. Accessed August 18, 2023.
  12. ^ ‘’Pozorište na Terazijama: Some Like It Hot (in Serbia), pozoristeterazije.com. Accessed August 18, 2023.
  13. ^ "Prince Edward Theatre listing" thisistheatre.com
  14. ^ Tour information owendaly.com
  15. ^ Garcia, John."ReviewDallas", talkinbroadway.com, July 21, 2002
  16. ^ Perry, Claudia."Some Like It Hot", Aisle Say, Philadelphia, April 2002
  17. ^ " 'Sugar' at Westchester Broadway Theatre" theatermania.com, accessed March 12, 2012
  18. ^ "Pimlico In Prison" grangeparkopera.co.uk, accessed March 12, 2012
  19. ^ "' Sugar" listing" musical.org, accessed March 12, 2012
  20. ^ "SUGAR @ Folketeatret" (in Danish). Archived from the original on 2015-11-25. Retrieved 24 November 2015.
  21. ^ "Sugar". 42nd Street Moon. Retrieved April 12, 2012.
  22. ^ Time review, April 24, 1972
  23. ^ Janiak, Lily (4 April 2012). "Sugar Director Dyan McBride Talks About Making Some Like It Hot a Musical". SFWeekly. Retrieved 7 April 2013.
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