Mrs. Doubtfire is fun. Rob McClure isn’t Robin Williams. But vice versa. McClure is one of those Broadway stars we often don’t get to see in Chicago unless it’s in a pre-Broadway tryout, which can be disappointing (I think back to when I saw Nathan Lane and Bebe Neuwirth in a easily-forgotten production of The Addams Family) or the performer is somewhat past their sweet spot in terms of Broadway demand (too many examples to mention), having been replaced by the next generation of ubertalent.

Speaking of the next generation, Giselle Gutierrez, a sophomore in college, as Lydia Hillard, displayed a voice and stage presence that will undoubtedly take her to Broadway some day.

McClure has more energy at age 41 than I had at age 17. When he isn’t acting (with his real-life wife as his stage wife), singing, dancing (in a variety of styles, with an awesome ensemble around him), nailing jokes, and doing at least eight or ten different voices, he’s busy getting in and out of the Mrs. Doubtfire mask, wig and costumes, and sharing the process with the audience, so that I can confidently say that he puts his pants on one leg at a time, but quickly, and without falling on his face.

The show has a somewhat checkered past, having started previews three days before all Broadway productions were closed for a year-and-a-half due to Covid, and then shutting down again for two months after only a month of performances due to more Covid concerns. McClure finally got enough stage time to get nominated for a Tony Award, but the show had lost all its momentum and didn’t last long on Broadway, which led to McClure’s interest in doing the national tour, to our great benefit.