Dr. Dolittle
Palace Theatre - April 19, 2006

There's a lot to be said for enjoying what you do. Judging by the smiles of the actor/dancers in Dr. Dolittle they seem to have more fun than anyone! What a pleasure to experience so much enjoyment! They'll wear you out just by watching their spirited antics.

Everyone knows the name Dr. Dolittle even if they don't know the origins of the much-loved tales. (They were written during WWI by the British-American Hugh Lofting.) Thanks to an earlier musical and a movie or two (with another one imminent) he's a familiar character. But, once you've seen this version, you'll always remember the man who IS Dr. Dolittle - Tommy Tune.

He's also the imagination behind this colorful new production that generally zips right along, letting us hear his delightful chats with the animals he tends, interspersed with songs and comic patter, and wonderful visual effects. (By now, the recalcitrant sets and curtains and so forth at Playhouse Square's Palace Theatre should have worked out their kinks and be performing properly, as well.)

The supporting cast is terrific! Clevelander Dee Hoty is one of Tune's favorite co-stars, and no wonder! They go together like, um, peanut butter and jelly? They're perfectly matched as singers, dancers and actors.

Dee Hoty and Tommy Tune
Photo by Joan Marcus

The songs-music and lyrics by Leslie Bricusse, are perfectly suited to the musical, and you may even find yourself humming one or two of them as you leave the theater. They're singable, in other words.

Joel Blum as Blossom is a hoot, and you'll long remember young Aaron Burr as Chee-Chee, the tap-dancing monkey. The scenes when he dances with Tune are very reminiscent of a much earlier dancing pair: Shirley Temple and Bill "Bojangles" Robinson.

The dancing throughout is energetic and athletic, except for the waltzes between Hoty and Tune. They are purely romantic, guaranteed to produce a lump in the throat of any mature female in the house. Choreographer is Patti Columbo.

Several of the animals are in puppet form: Polynesia, the parrot, charmingly performed by Sandi DeGeorge; Gub-Gub, the pig, by Matthew Crowle; Sophie, the seal (who could have been more effective had she been bigger, perhaps) by Elisa Van Duyne and Steven Wenslawski; and Jean-Pierre by Jonathan Richard Sandler.

Toggle the horse is a two person (David F.M. Vaughn and Erin Webley) creature, as is the fabulous Pushmi/Pullyu of Scott Leiendecker and Sandler. The dance with this animal and Tune is a genuine show-stopper! The Giant Lunar Moth (personed by Van Duyne) was terrifically inviting, so who could blame the good doctor for wishing to fly with her?

Tommy Tune as Dr. Dolittle
Photo by Joan Marcus

Dr. Dolittle is presented in one 90-minute act, which apparently holds the interest of everyone with no difficulties. There were small children seated all around me on Wednesday night, and they were all amazingly well-behaved. They were mostly quiet (an occasional 'Mommy, why is --?' could be heard) but otherwise were attentive and happy and, along with the adults present, enjoying themselves immensely!

(Note to Mr. Tune: Perhaps your next show might be about Ponce deLeon, who discovered-or not-the fountain of youth. That way you could share your secret with the rest of us!) If you go to see this show - and you really should - you will NOT believe that Tommy Tune can possibly be as old as they say he is!

Dr. Dolittle runs through Sunday, April 30 at the Palace Theatre. For tickets or information, visit the web-site or call 216-241-6000.

-- Kelly Ferjutz