review: mrs doubtfire @ the saenger theatre

We Didn't Doubt The Fire: Mrs Doubtfire @ The Saenger Theatre
Review by Dorian Hatchett

Rob McClure and I were both born in 1982. That leads me to believe with some certainty that I can understand how absolutely enchanting the work of Robin Williams was to him as a child. I still carry a DVD of Dead Poets Society with me when I move (despite not having a DVD player for years) because there is something essential, even formative, about the way his acting style shaped my sense of what makes something funny. 

This also allows me to understand why Rob and would throw himself into a passion project like Mrs. Doubtfire the Musical, and when its Broadway run was truncated by industry complications brought on by Covid 19, would follow it by joining the North American tour. He plays the titular character, Mrs. Doubtfire, a clever ruse made up by jilted husband and father Daniel Hillard. 

Joining him on stage for the touring production is his real-life Spouse Maggie Lakis as Miranda Hillard. They have worked together before, having met on set in a production of Grease, and later working as puppeteers in Avenue Q.  Their stage chemistry is undeniable, even playing divorced co-parents.  

Everything about this production is eye candy. It’s sweet and bright and not too complex. Following the story line of the movie pretty much exactly, the musical numbers are easy replacements for cinematography in a feel-good stage production full of easy laughs and physical comedy. 

McClure is a genius with impressions, and pulls out all the stops for comedic affect.  Mixed into the dialogue are a smattering of current pop culture references that did not fail to bring laughter from the audience (there’s a special, delighted sound that rang ‘round the theatre when the caricature of Paula Deen suggests that 8 sticks of butter would be perfect for an easy-peasy recipe).

Dance numbers are well choreographed, with the polish and flair befitting a true Broadway-level spectacle. There are laughs designed to register separately with both children and adults in the audience as double entendre, in the way that the best family comedies often do.  

It’s rare that I see a traveling production with a set design that rivals the shows I’ve seen on Broadway, but I feel a special mention needs to be made of the set design for this show. There are a host of different sets, including two different houses, a restaurant, the streets of San Francisco, a tv sound stage, and a wardrobe department, and each of them is as detailed and seamless as the last. The stage crew was flawless in their execution, and the lighting design kept the audience engaged in a way that was surprising in such a fast-paced show. The Saenger Theatre is a true gem for sound, and this show is no exception.  

Mrs. Doubtfire runs at the Saenger Theatre through May 19