REVIEW: 9 to 5

[ColorTheHours048]

Posted: 4/8/09 at 10:40am

Dolly Parton's baby, Broadway's brand-new musical 9 TO 5, has the words "monster hit" all over it. While it doesn't carry a girth of substance, it's certainly not as fluffy as one would expect it to be. Certainly, it would qualify as "fluff," but it does have weight and it does have something rather important to say.

There is no better way to say this, so I'm just going to be very basic: I had SO. MUCH. FUN. I frequently found myself smiling like and idiot and wanting to jump up and dance in my seat. The songs are brilliantly Dolly. Her hands are all over this score and it shows in a very big way (which is a great thing). Patricia Resnick's book is, at times, very rushed and a little more complicated than it needs to be. But when the laughs come, they REALLY deliver. This is not a "light chuckle" show. When you laugh, you LAUGH. And Patricia's new ending (as opposed to out-of-town) is MUCH better, giving Janney a chance to really shine in a brilliant monologue.

Now... the girls: Allison Janney is a great Violet. Is she a strong contender for Best Actress like everyone claims she is? Not quite. Though that's not her fault. The part just isn't written strong enough and she never really has that "leading lady" moment like she should (save for the ending; but all the girls have that moment somewhere in the show). But this girl (sorry... "wom-Y-n") knows a joke when she sees one, landing every single punchline like a pro. And it will only get tighter and funnier from here. Stephanie J. Block is brilliant as Judy. It's pretty much a given, but "Get Out and Stay Out" is absolutely STUNNING. I'm not an SJB fan, but she really wowed me throughout the entire show. Perhaps she plays up Judy's wilted-flowerness a tad too much, but it's never over-the-top. Her transformation between acts is excellent, empowering herself in order to believably deliver the showstopper "Get Out..." at the end of the second act. Megan Hilty really was the best of the three for me. At the beginning, it seems as if she is going to deliver a carbon copy of Dolly's Doralee, but then takes off in her own direction, in some ways becoming the strongest-willed of the three women. In less capable hands, "Backwoods Barbie" would be overwhelmingly cheesy. But under Hilty's care, it becomes touching and poignant while still having that shmaltzy, traditionally Dolly feel to it.

Marc Kudisch doesn't have enough to do in his role as Frank Hart. His new song "Always a Woman" is the one of the only two moments that fall completely flat. But he manages, in his poorly written role, to make Hart absolutely disgusting. Kathy Fitzgerald is absolutely hysterical as Roz. "Heart to Hart" is unbelievably funny and she sells every single joke. I can't say enough good things about her. She steals every scene she's in.

The set will surely win a Tony. There is really nothing more to say about it. It was as good as everyone expected it to be. And for anyone worried about them downscaling it, it works. There were only a few minor malfunctions. The elevator didn't open in one scene, which prompted Megan to shout "LET'S JUST TAKE THE STAIRS!" Also, a part of the garage door opener fell from the fly as it was being taken off and almost whacked Allison in the head, landing directly behind her. All three of the women looked behind them. Very funny. A file cabinet didn't roll off and some stagehands came and rolled it off. Overall though, this was a pretty tight first preview for such a massive show. My only issue, set-wise, is that during some quieter moments, set pieces can be heard clinking around backstage while they're being put in place. I found it especially distracting during the act one number "I Just Might."

This was some of the most fun I've had in a theater. Seriously. Go see this show. Not only will it be a massive hit, but it actually deserves to be. An insanely fun show with an extremely talented cast and creative team that has a big heart to back it all up. Could it beat BILLY and N2N out for Best Musical? It's possible. But it'll be a bigger hit than both of them, so it doesn't really matter in the end.

[RentBoy86]

Posted: 4/8/09 at 11:26am

I'm so excited! I'm going tonight! Where did you sit?

[ColorTheHours048]

Posted: 4/8/09 at 12:39pm

Row B, mezz. Off to the left.

[boyfromoz2]

Posted: 4/8/09 at 12:42pm

What seat? I think I was sitting very close to you - I was B118.

[ColorTheHours048]

Posted: 4/8/09 at 12:43pm

B19

[boyfromoz2]

Posted: 4/8/09 at 12:44pm

So opposite side of the theatre? Broadway seating plans always get me confused

[ColorTheHours048]

Posted: 4/8/09 at 12:45pm

I was in the left section. You were center.

[BroadwayBound115]

Posted: 4/8/09 at 1:13pm

It is fantastic to hear such a great review. I am looking forward to seeing this. Who is the set designer, by the way?

[ColorTheHours048]

Posted: 4/8/09 at 1:14pm

Scott Pask

[Brave Sir Robin2]

Posted: 4/8/09 at 2:15pm

Major changes from L.A? Did they cut "Mundania"?

[RentBoy86]

Posted: 4/8/09 at 4:23pm

I'm surprised to hear they scaled back the sets for Broadway rather than beefing them up.

[ColorTheHours048]

Posted: 4/8/09 at 5:14pm

Brave Sir Robin2 - They cut "Mundania," "Tattletale," "The One I Love," and I can't really recall what else if anything else. All good choices to cut. And they replaced them with (mostly) good substitutes. They also tweaked the ending quite it bit. It still ends the same, but the means of getting there is a different. Don't want to spoil anything. There's other stuff too, but it's a lot to remember.

RentBoy86 - The Marquis stage is smaller than the one at the Ahmanson, so the sets needed to be scaled down a little bit.

[jbdc]

Posted: 4/8/09 at 6:58pm

Really well-written review. thanks.

[musicaltheatreman]

Posted: 4/8/09 at 7:03pm

are there pics of the set anywhere online?

[suzycat]

Posted: 4/8/09 at 7:04pm

I was also at last night's preview and agree with most of what ColorTheHours048 said. It's going to be such a hit! It was a total party and the three women are phenomenal. I was way the heck up in the rear mezz on the side, and though I would have loved to be closer, it didn't matter because I was having so much fun. The whole cast signed at the stage door (no Dolly). They were all so nice and were happy to take photos. A delight all around. Go buy your tix!

[TimeSquare3]

Posted: 4/8/09 at 7:05pm

The LA set.

[Broadway Bob*]

Posted: 4/8/09 at 7:16pm

I'm so glad people seem to be liking this show and can't wait to see it!

[wickedfan11]

Posted: 4/8/09 at 7:16pm

Who are the new cast members?

[ColorTheHours048]

Posted: 4/8/09 at 7:19pm

There are no new people in speaking roles. Any new people are in the ensemble. And there are only about 2 or 3, I think. Neil Haskell from "So You Think You Can Dance" is in the ensemble (sporting the skimpiest running shorts ever, for all you ladies and fellow gays out there) and he's a FABULOUS dancer.

[wickedfan11]

Posted: 4/8/09 at 7:22pm

Can you tell me the other new ensemble members and who they replaced?

[TimeSquare3]

Posted: 4/8/09 at 7:24pm

Kevin Kern was replaced.

[TimeSquare3]

Posted: 4/8/09 at 7:25pm

Shine like the sun is on the site now.

[TimeSquare3]

Posted: 4/8/09 at 7:30pm

http://www.9to5themusical.com/flash/walkmanFiles/tracks/shine_like_the_sun.zip

[CSonBroadway]

Posted: 4/8/09 at 7:31pm

It sounds great! Is this a demo or the final cast recording version?

[TimeSquare3]

Posted: 4/8/09 at 7:32pm

AND BACKWOODS BARBIE & 9to5!!!

http://www.9to5themusical.com/flash/walkmanFiles/tracks/9_to_5.mp3

http://www.9to5themusical.com/flash/walkmanFiles/tracks/BACKWOODS_BARBIE.mp3

Updated On: 4/8/09 at 07:32 PM