"Nine" - original 1982 Production
"Nine" - original 1982 Production
#1"Nine" - original 1982 Production
Posted: 3/13/14 at 10:41pm
I am a Broadway musical junkie. I've seen them all in the last 40 years. Enjoyed most, but, none have moved me as much as the original production of "Nine." While I wasn't fond of the Banderas revival and despised the film version, the original lives so vividly in my mind. Did you see it? What were your thoughts? Why has history not been very kind to it?
#2'Nine' -- original 1982 production
Posted: 3/13/14 at 11:03pm
Because Anita Morris.
Anita Morris TV Commercial for Nine (1982)
ARTc3
Broadway Star Joined: 8/5/13
#2'Nine' -- original 1982 production
Posted: 3/13/14 at 11:21pm
I too am a Broadway musical junkie and have seen most of them in the last 40 years. Surprisingly, I was bored stiff at the original production of, Nine. I couldn't wait for it to end. Clearly, I'm in the minority as it had a healthy run, received critical acclaim, and a Tony. My vote was for Dreamgirls that year. In fact, I have always thought Dreamgirls was robbed.
To each his own...
ARTc3 formerly ARTc. Actually been a poster since 2004. My name isn't Art. Drop the "3" and say the signature and you'll understand.
Updated On: 3/13/14 at 11:21 PM
After Eight
Broadway Legend Joined: 6/5/09
#3'Nine' -- original 1982 production
Posted: 3/13/14 at 11:43pm
I thought the original was very stylish and beautiful to look at. It definitely deserved the Tony over Dreamgirls.
The revival was good, but not as effective.
The film version was awful.
#4'Nine' -- original 1982 production
Posted: 3/14/14 at 4:17amI dearly wish I could have seen the original production. I've heard it described but I can only imagine seeing that vivacious cast in person. The cast recording is so wonderfully earthy and real ("Simple" is the big goosebumps crying number for me), it was just awful seeing and hearing it get torn to ribbons in the misguided film.
bobs3
Broadway Legend Joined: 4/8/12
#5'Nine' -- original 1982 production
Posted: 3/14/14 at 5:17amI thought the first act was great, the second act not so much -- except for Karen Ackers rendition of "Be on Your Own" -- although I preferred Elaine Paige's new arrangement of the song on her album "Stages".
#6'Nine' -- original 1982 production
Posted: 3/14/14 at 7:20am
Yes many of the performances in the OBC were wonderful. But frankly I too was bored by the staging of the original. In retrospect, it's as if Tommy Tune's unit set of pedestals for each character anticipated the concert staging style of Encores for the last 20 years. (I also found that gridded white set design atrocious-- but to each his own.)
I must be the only one I know who found the Banderas revival dangerous, gorgeous, completely thrilling, and better sung and acted than the original. I've never enjoyed another David Leveaux production as much as this show. I guess I'm a sucker for putting the aqua-alta season in St Mark's Square right onstage! A highlight of my theatergoing that season I'm thrilled to have seen.
henrikegerman
Broadway Legend Joined: 4/29/05
#7'Nine' -- original 1982 production
Posted: 3/14/14 at 7:26amWhy do you say history has not been kind to it?
#8'Nine' -- original 1982 production
Posted: 3/14/14 at 7:41amThanks. I will have to check out Elaine's new version. Love that song (and most of the songs) in the show.
#9'Nine' -- original 1982 production
Posted: 3/14/14 at 7:43am
Other than true theater aficionados, when I cite it as one of my all-time favorite musicals, I get blank stares or, responses like some of the ones in this thread.
I saw the original cast 3 times. One time was during the blizzard of '83 when I managed to walk from East Village to TKTS and got the best seats.
I loved the original version of "Dreamgirls" as well. Tough Tony race that year.
Also, has 'Nine" ever toured?
Updated On: 3/14/14 at 07:43 AM
henrikegerman
Broadway Legend Joined: 4/29/05
#10'Nine' -- original 1982 production
Posted: 3/14/14 at 8:23am
Thanks, Bob. Your question took me by surprise because not only in my experience did most people enjoy the original and fondly recall Tune's direction, Julia, Montevecchi, Morris, Akers, etc. the production values and the score, but the show has had a major, successful and very starry revival and unlike the vast majority of late twentieth century musicals even made it to the big screen (albeit not successfully. Seems like history has been quite kind to it.
Updated On: 3/14/14 at 08:23 AM
Huey's Pop
Featured Actor Joined: 4/19/05
#11'Nine' -- original 1982 production
Posted: 3/14/14 at 8:58am
Yes, Nine toured. I saw it in Los Angeles. I've always thought that the best part of the show is its original cast album, which seemed to play non stop in my home for many years.
The last time I saw Nine was at a 99-seat local theater. The male lead was engaged to one of the women in the cast. They never married though -- shortly after the performance, he was arrested for the murder of two people in a scheme to get money for his honeymoon. Bizarre! (A double tradegy because his performance in the show was really good and I was looking forward to seeing him in other productions)
Updated On: 3/15/14 at 08:58 AM
#12'Nine' -- original 1982 production
Posted: 3/14/14 at 9:32am
Funny that two of THE most hotly contested Tony races for Best Musicals involved Tommy Tune shows: Nine vs. Dreamgirls and Grand Hotel vs. City of Angels.
Of course, one of the other most hotly contested was 1983 with La Cage up against Sunday in the Park. No Tommy Tune show in the running that year.
#13'Nine' -- original 1982 production
Posted: 3/14/14 at 9:33am
I don't think that's right StageStruck.
City of Angels and Grand both won Best Musical.
ETA: Nope, I'm wrong. City of Angels won over Grand Hotel
....but the world goes 'round
Updated On: 3/14/14 at 09:33 AM
#14'Nine' -- original 1982 production
Posted: 3/14/14 at 9:37am
I just double-checked. Grand Hotel lost to City of Angels that year. Unfairly, I thought at the time. Maybe City of Angels was better written, but I will never forget the overall experience of Grand Hotel. Pure theatrical magic!
Updated On: 3/14/14 at 09:37 AM
#15'Nine' -- original 1982 production
Posted: 3/14/14 at 9:38am
Yea, I edited my post.
Tommy Tune did win best director however.
....but the world goes 'round
Gothampc
Broadway Legend Joined: 5/20/03
#16'Nine' -- original 1982 production
Posted: 3/14/14 at 10:06am
Excuse the threadjack:
"Maybe City of Angels was better written, but I will never forget the overall experience of Grand Hotel."
While both are excellent shows, I remember Grand Hotel was mocked for being a show about moving chairs around the stage. City of Angels had that fascinating design of moving from color to black and white, so I think City of Angels was favored purely for how impressive it was. Either way, neither of these brilliant shows has been revived and it's a shame that we get a zillion Gypsys, Sweeney Todds and Companys and yet don't see either of these shows.
If anyone ever tells you that you put too much Parmesan cheese on your pasta, stop talking to them. You don't need that kind of negativity in your life.
#17'Nine' -- original 1982 production
Posted: 3/14/14 at 10:11am
I agree! These are 2 of my favorite shows.
....but the world goes 'round
#18'Nine' -- original 1982 production
Posted: 3/14/14 at 10:32am
City of Angels and Grand Hotel would both make good films, in the right hands.
I love the score to Nine. One of my favorites from the '80s or from any decade, actually.
"Jaws is the Citizen Kane of movies."
blocked: logan2, Diamonds3, Hamilton22
blocked: logan2, Diamonds3, Hamilton22
#19'Nine' -- original 1982 production
Posted: 3/14/14 at 10:41am
Again I agree.
Nine is one easily in my top 5 favorite scores.
....but the world goes 'round
#20'Nine' -- original 1982 production
Posted: 3/14/14 at 10:52am
The original production of Nine was brilliant, every aspect of it - book, lyrics, music, design, direction, performances - was perfection. When Sergio Franchi took over from Raul Julia, the perfection cracked. And while the Banderas production had a lot going for it, it was still a pale shadow of the original's perfection.
I also loved Grand Hotel, but was perfectly fine with City of Angels, another terrific show, to get the award. It would be glorious to have a season with two such shows, shows that excel at form and content.
#21'Nine' -- original 1982 production
Posted: 3/14/14 at 11:00am
I recently had the chance to see a recording of the original production of Nine and Tune's direction was brilliant.
Question:
ibdb has Montevecchi listed as winning supporting actress. For some reason I always thought Anita Morris won. Is ibdb wrong or am I remembering incorrectly?
Also, Raul Julia really should have won best actor over Ben Harney.
....but the world goes 'round
Updated On: 3/14/14 at 11:00 AM
#22'Nine' -- original 1982 production
Posted: 3/14/14 at 11:23am
From the Tony website:
Actress (Featured Role--Musical)
Winner - Liliane Montevecchi (Nine)
Nominees:
Karen Akers (Nine)
Laurie Beechman (Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat)
Anita Morris (Nine)
#23'Nine' -- original 1982 production
Posted: 3/14/14 at 11:26am
Thanks newintown.
(Anita should have won, imo)
....but the world goes 'round
#24'Nine' -- original 1982 production
Posted: 3/14/14 at 11:27am
Wasn't Montevecchi's win a bit of a surprise at the time, as many people thought Morris would get it?
Just thinking about seeing City of Angels and Grand Hotel within weeks of each other as a high schooler makes me long for the old view, George.
