Review: Sugar, Some like it Hot – Hot it was, and hilariously funny. A brilliant staging of a classic…. Five Star Rating!

Saturday was a miserable day, a typical Irish Spring day of incessant rain and cold temperatures. With the wood stove glowing and a border collie asleep at my feet, I thought bad of going out Saturday night to review ‘Sugar, Some Like it Hot!’

Am I glad I changed my mind. This was the best, most up-lifting musical I’ve seen in years, well ever actually! When I glanced at the programme and saw 15 presentations in the First Act alone, I thought “Flippin’ long night ahead”.

From start to finish, this production flowed, excellent on every level: orchestra, sound and lighting; set changes took only minutes, as we travelled smoothly from music hall to train station, train carriage, hotel, sea front promenade to ladies sleeping quarters to a luxury yacht – all literally only a took a minute or more for each set change. Oscar there for Bob O’Kelly and the team.

If you never saw the classic black and white film starring Jack Lemon and Tony Curtis and of course, sexy screen idol Marilyn Monroe as the ditzy Sugar, briefly this tale involves a bit of Chicago gangster fueding, a touch of cross dressing (for the survival purposes of the two leading male roles), romance in the least likely places – and a wealth of feel-good, up lifting song and dance.

Naas Musical Society delivered on all scores – their dancing troupe never dropped the energy levels despite many costume and character changes (Tap dancing sequence in ‘Tear the Town Apart’ shed some calories!). There is a scene, November Song, which was based in a plush hotel catering for elderly billionaires. On come the dancers again, the females scantily clad in sassy nurse uniforms (befitting of Ann Summers lingerie website) and the males teetering doggedly on zimmer frames or being pushed in wheelchairs - the funniest number I’ve ever seen and the audience just collapsed in laughter.

Siobhan Clifford excelled in the ditzy lead role, Sugar.

Claire O’Reilly with a great voice played the bossy ‘Sweet Sue’, director of the female musical troupe with poor Brian P Gallagher as her beleaguered sidekick; Siobhán Clifford played Sugar and took on the doe eyed, pouting lead role, true to the Marilyn caricature with the distinctive wiggle and stork lift maintained throughout – fab voice, looks and delivery.

Martin Fahy, left, as Daphne and Stephen Fagan as Josephine were hilarious

Stephen Fagan made a great Josephine – not bad legs for a man! But Martin Fahy as Daphne – I’d love to say he made a stunning woman but he was possibly the ugliest, weirdest looking female I’ve ever seen! The sight of him in lady’s garments with a white vest underneath and a glimpse of a hairy chest over the bodice - hilarious!

Shane Byrne (above left) as the thug Spatts Palazzo (and several other roles) was equally impressive, along with his sidekicks Paul Dicker as Knuckles and others, they changed from gangsters to randy old men, to background characters, etc.

The transitions were fluid, musical direction, orchestra and choreography, costumes, hair and make-up, and set changes came fast and furious - flawless.

Special mention must go to Rory Robinson (above right) who just edges Shane and Brian out of the overall Oscar as Best Male Performance. As the lecherous Sir Osgood Fielding albeit in gentlemanly way, seeking his 9th or 10th wife, he was so entertaining as he pursued the gangly, goofy Daphne. And Daphne (Stephen in drag) takes the Oscar for Best Female Performance!!

The show runs nightly at 8pm up to and including Saturday 10, with the exception of tonight when the show starts at 6.30pm. It’s uplifting, invigorating and every single member of the cast gave it their all. Bookings at (045) 883 030, you will not be disappointed! No surprise when they the cast and production got a standing ovation.

Thanks to the front of house crew for the lovely opening night reception, red and white wine, Lily O’Brien chocolates, nibbles and dibbles – Operation Transformation was soon forgotten….

Photos Aishling Conway