Tootsie at Teatre Apolo, Barcelona Review
Written by Laura for Theatre & Tonic
Disclaimer: Gifted tickets in exchange for an honest review
Michael Dorsey can’t find a job on Broadway. In order to fulfill his dreams, he ends up disguising himself as Dorothy Michaels, finally landing a role that could change his life. Adapted from the 1982 movie of the same name, the creators call this story a “musical sitcom,” which I think is quite a fitting label, as there are plenty of witty remarks and quick scene transitions.
Ivan Labanda was phenomenal as Michael/Dorothy. It’s a very demanding role, both vocally and emotionally, and he navigated it with talent and grace. He had amazing chemistry with Ricky Mata, who plays Jeff Slater, and together they had some hilarious moments. I also want to highlight Diana Roig as Julie Nichols; she has the voice of a Disney princess, clear and resonant, and manages to convey emotion with every word. Every time I’ve seen her live, she has impressed me, and this time was no exception.
One thing I must deduct points for is the set design. I can’t guarantee this, but I feel quite certain AI was used to build the sets. The rotating walls used to change locations were a clever idea, but I noticed some inconsistencies right from the start. One of the locations was Broadway, and most of the show names were misspelled or had strange logos and typography. Michael’s house had a bit of an uncanny feel to it. In one scene, Dorothy is photoshopped into show posters, and half of them don’t really look like Labanda. Finally, a screen was used to further integrate the locations, and at one point, a very fake-looking hand was seen stirring coffee. As I said, I can’t prove it, but I find it concerning and lazy. And if it wasn’t AI, then it was just an unfortunately sloppy job.
Regarding the music, I loved that the band was integrated onstage, although that did take up a lot of space that could have been used for other things. The musicians were energetic and lively, and they did a great job setting the tone. As for the songs themselves, they weren’t especially memorable, but they were entertaining and helped move the plot forward.
The costumes were excellent, and some were clearly designed for quick changes on and off stage, which was quite impressive. There was a realistic contrast between the everyday clothes and the stage costumes, which I found refreshing. I especially loved Dorothy’s iconic red dress, though I wish they had given her a different wig for Act 2, as it looked a bit battered after so many scenes.
I would have loved to give this production a higher rating based on the cast alone, but the sets unfortunately prevent me from doing so. Still, it’s a solid show, well-suited for both theatre lovers and occasional visitors.
Tootsie will be playing at Teatre Apolo, in Barcelona, until December 8th. After that, it will be heading to Jérez and Sevilla in June and July respectively.
★★★
