Fans of David Yazbek will be in their element in Sydney right now, with two of his musicals currently on stage. Dirty Rotten Scoundrels is playing at the Hayes Theatre Co. It is joined by the Australian premiere of Tootsie at Teatro at the Italian Forum in Leichhardt.

Featuring music and lyrics by Yazbek, with book by Robert Horn, the 2018 musical is based on the 1982 movie starring Dustin Hoffman. The show sticks fairly closely to the film, though it centres around the staging of a Broadway musical rather than a reality TV show.

Andrew Bevis as Dorothy with the ensemble in Tootsie. Photo © Robert Miniter

New York actor Michael Dorsey finds himself waiting tables because he has gained a reputation for being arrogant and notoriously difficult to work with. When his neurotic ex-girlfriend Sandy arrives with scenes for an audition for a Shakespeare-inspired musical called Juliet’s Curse, he decides to disguise himself as a matronly lady named Dorothy Michaels and audition too.

Landing the role of Juliet’s nurse, thanks in no small part to the show’s producer Rita, Michael/Dorothy wins the support of the cast, becomes the star of the reworked show and falls in love with Julie who plays Juliet. Inevitably, things get complicated.

The premise of a man pretending to be a woman, and landing a female role, is a knottier issue today than when the show was written, even though Michael’s roommate Jeff raises concerns. But there’s heart as well as humour in the musical, with Michael supposedly becoming a better person after seeing life through the eyes of a woman.

There are some very funny lines throughout the show, with plenty of laughter ensuing, and while the songs aren’t in quite the same league as the score of Dirty Rotten Scoundrels, they’re still enjoyable.

Cameron Mitchell directs and choreographs with his usual panache, and brings a great sense of humour to his purposely bad movement for the terrible show within the show.

Making the most of limited resources, Dan Potra’s simple set includes swivelling panels with lightbulbs along the back wall, while the cast move furniture on and off the stage. Angela White’s Eighties-inspired costuming adds plenty of colour.

Tyran Stig as Jeff as Andrew Bevis as Michael in Tootsie. Photo © Robert Miniter

Andrew Bevis (a co-Artistic Director of Teatro) does a sterling job, convincingly portraying Michael and Dorothy – a big undertaking – and sings impressively as both characters (though his switch into falsetto is slightly awkward).

Elenoa Rokobaro captures Julie’s kindness and conviction, and brings a touch of soul to her singing, while Tyran Stig is a standout as Michael’s laconic roommate Jeff, who is having his own problems as a playwright. He delivers a wonderfully droll portrayal, nailing every laugh with perfect comic timing.

Donna Lee channels old-school showbiz into an assured performance as the producer Rita, and Brendan Irving pitches the humour just right as the brainless, chest-baring reality star Max Van Horn, who is very taken with Dorothy.

Tootsie plays at the Teatro at the Italian Forum in Leichhardt, Sydney until 21 June. More information here.