Back in 1982, Dustin Hoffman proved he had what it takes to make a drag classic. The story of a self-absorbed and difficult to work with actor finding his inner woman contains more than its share of laughs, farce, absurdity and pathos. This Academy Award-winning picture relies on insightful satire on show business in general, as well as many very keen insights about sexism. Cross-dressing and musical theater go together better than anything else. The adaptation of Billy Wilder's Some Like it Hot and the aforementioned Kinky Boots are proof that men-as-women musicals are often a roaring success. Sydney Pollack's Tootsie has all the clever plotting and comedy of those films, but with an added depth and drama that could only make the musical adaptation more compelling. Drag-acting is not just a gimmick in this story, but a clever plot mechanic for character development.With the right actor in the lead role, Tootsie: The Musical could be an excellent commentary on sexual identity in a modern context. Show-Stopping Numbers: "One Nutty Hospital" - finale, featuring the live TV broadcast and Michael's "Big Reveal" (Chorus)
Self-evidently a man who writes for the Internet, Robert also writes films, plays, teleplays, and short stories when he's not working on a movie set somewhere. He lives somewhere behind the Hollywood sign.
