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Sugar by Granite Hills Acting Workshop In 1959, legendary director Billy Wilder released the groundbreaking, gender-bending comedy classic of all time, Some Like It Hot. The movie starred Marilyn Monroe, Jack Lemmon, and Tony Curtis, with scenes of the film being shot at the beach in Coronado. In 2001, El Cajon's Granite Hills Acting Workshop performed Sugar, the musical version of Some Like It Hot, starring Jessica Kloor, Brandon Roesler, and Jarryd Davis. And no doubt they could hear the laughter and applause all the way down at the Hotel Del! Brilliant comedy more than makes up for the less-than-brilliant musical score, although there are a couple numbers that add to the show including We Could Be Close and the title song. Sugar Kane, the inspiration for the title song and the character played by Marilyn Monroe in the film, is the very sweet, fairly ditzy, ukulele-playing lead singer of an all-girl band, here performed by the talented vocalist Jessica Kloor. Jessica's beautiful voice first broke onto the San Diego scene back in Starlight Musical Theatre's 1988 performance of The Sound of Music, and thirteen years later it has helped earn her a full scholarship to Pepperdine University where she can continue her promising career. Falling for the gorgeous Sugar Kane are two out-of-luck musicians, Joe (Jarryd Davis) and Jerry (Brandon Roesler). When they chance to witness the St. Valentine's Day Massacre and are chased by mob boss Spats Palazzo (Travis Heath), they need to get out of Chicago. And fast! So why not join the all-girl band leaving for Miami (following a short stop in beleaguered West Palm Beach). Thus, Joe becomes Josephine and Jerry becomes Daphne. Let the uproarious laughter begin! Jarryd Davis lends his impressive voice and considerable acting experience to the role of Joe/Josephine - the guy who gets the girl (through a bit of comical conniving) - and he makes for a memorable team with Brandon Roesler (playing Jerry/Daphne). Despite Brandon's fantastic performances in the past, he definitely saved the best for his last show with Granite Hills. In what was simply one of the best comic acting I've ever seen on stage, Brandon completely won the audience over with his uninhibited performance - first as the guy dressed as a girl who goes nuts after the members of the all-girl band, and especially as the guy dressed as a girl who suddenly wilts under the lavish attention of his millionaire suitor, Sir Osgood Fielding (Austin Thorpe). Speaking of which, Austin Thorpe himself gives a great performance as the elderly millionaire who still has at least as many hormones as dollars, displaying a flair for both singing and comedy. As Spats Palazzo, Travis Heath offered another terrific portrayal of an outrageous "gangster," following up on his hilarious role last year as "First Gangster" in Youth Summerstock's Kiss Me Kate. Jennifer Volker, as Sweet Sue (who, as the strict manager of the band, is not nearly as sweet as she sounds), had a chance to show off her rich voice in When You Meet a Man in Chicago. And the rest of the ensemble was unusually strong, consisting of dancing hoods and members of the all-girl band who are stars in their own right. Sadly, this was the last show at Granite Hills for many of these talented actors and actresses, a group that has honestly put on some of the best shows I've seen at any level of theatre. Happily, they can now begin adding fresh talent to the rest of our local theatre community! Rob Hopper San Diego Playbill ~ Cast ~ Sugar Kane - Jessica Kloor Joe (Josephine) - Jarryd Davis Jerry (Daphne) - Brandon Roesler Sweet Sue - Jennifer Volker ~ Girl Band Members ~ Olga - Marjorie Oslie Dolores - Stacy Moore Mary Lou - Carly Nykanen Rosella - Kristen Taylor Emily - Tashya Garoutte Opal - Marla Worm Lulu - Chanel Nicolet Bienstock - Johnathan Shuffeldt Sir Osgood Fielding - Austin Thorpe Spats Palazzo - Travis Heath Knuckles Norton - Jon Clauss ~ Hoods and Millionaires ~ Derek Maples Brandon Pohl Jason Araujo Danny Lauridson Josh Fox Mike Parisi Bathing Beauty - Aimee Dotts Directed by Barry Bosworth |