9 TO 5 : It was cute.

[MiracleElixir]

Posted: 4/9/09 at 1:16pm

So, I saw '9 to 5' via Rush last night (seat was just fine), and went in with moderate expectations. I didn't expect it to be the greatest thing ever, but I like the cast, really enjoy the movie, love Dolly, and just expected a good time. For the most part, I got it -- it's a cute, fun, enjoyable crowd-pleaser -- but if anyone LOVES this show, they're either pushing themselves to be as enthusiastic as their hopeful/wishful expectations, or they're waaaay too easy to please. On the other end of the spectrum, I don't see how someone could sincerely call this a 'bad' show; it's nothing special, but it bends over backwards to satisfy, and you'd be hard-pressed to hate it.

The jokes are pretty much never funny (though only occasionally cringe-worthy), but I did laugh a few times, almost always due to the actors' delivery, not the jokes themselves (I mean, seriously, a character saying that the character they're holding hostage is "tied up at the moment" passes muster?). I think all four leads were a lot of fun to watch and gave full-fledged comic performances; As a rule, I loooooove Alison Janney, and she was my favorite of the bunch here, but I really can't see anyone here taking any awards at season's end. They're fun, enjoyable performances, but let's face it, no one creates an iconic/memorable character here, nor do they do anything with them that transcends the material. Next up, the songs: I love Dolly as much as the next gay, but I honestly can't remember one of these tunes the day after seeing the show, and even while I was watching/listening, it struck me that they were kind of bland. Nothing that made my ears bleed, but they're just not particularly catchy/well-written/memorable.

And those who've mentioned that this is more than just fluff because it's 'about something' and imparts 'important themes'? Please. What's this important theme, that women should be equal in the work place? I agree it's an important, relevant issue... 30 years ago. This isn't a fault of the show at all, because I don't think it's self-congratulatory at all, or trying to act like it's 'important' ; fans of the show need to just stop trumping up this cute-and-nothing-more show's supposed relevance.

I'm sorry to sound so negative, as I truly did enjoy the show, there was just not much about it I felt supremely enthusiastic about. I suppose it will be a hit, as my audience seemed to really enjoy it (though one elderly man near me muttered during intermission "she ain't Dolly Parton, and the other one ain't Jane Fonda"), but I really can't envision someone being blown away by it. While this is, in my opinion, a better show, the show this most reminded me of, in almost every way, was "Legally Blonde." Like that show, it's a fluffy, enjoyable, lighter-than-air, audience-pleasing, female-skewing, bubble-gum, big-budget, based-on-a-movie machine.
Updated On: 4/9/09 at 01:16 PM

[madbrian]

Posted: 4/9/09 at 1:26pm

I'm going tonight, and my expectations are about the same. I'm expecting a lot of fun and entertainment, not much more. I happen to think Janney's one of the funniest people on the planet.

Judging by the clips I've seen, I think once she's done with this show, someone should cast Janney in a revival of Applause.

[LadyDramaturg2]

Posted: 4/9/09 at 2:24pm

Wow, Janney in Applause -- is she Big-Time-Diva-type enough?
[I love her, I really do, don't kick me, I'm asking a real casting question.]

The movie was on TV recently, which I'd never seen all the way through, so I made it a point to watch closely.

The material is not really that strong, do you think? I thought there was a lot of unbelievability in the plot shenanigans, and it seemed to be a star vehicle more than anything else (a way for Dabney Coleman to play hateful-and-slapstick, e.g.).

The songs better be terrific (which they could be, considering the composer), or the book better have some artful tinkering; otherwise, I'm thinking, why this show, now?

[TheaterBoy7777]

Posted: 4/9/09 at 3:02pm

I can't agree with you more Miracle... I did have like 3 songs in my head today but I give that credit to my ipod the rest of the score wasn't as memorable. And I agree 100% with the girls and the possible Tony wins...do you think 30-40 years from now we are going to still be talking about performances they gave...Im thinking not, I guess I could be suprised.

"I love dolly as much as the next gay" Bahahaha LMAO

[changinandhow]

Posted: 4/9/09 at 3:05pm

Not to go all feminist on you here -- but please, like the issue of equality in the workplace isn't relevant anymore. It still is imporant, although maybe not to the extent it was 30 years ago, but that's what theatre does: dramatize.

[MiracleElixir]

Posted: 4/9/09 at 3:18pm

The show takes place in 1976, so it's totally still relevant in the show. Like I said, I have no issue with the show in this regard, I have issue with the fans who claims this makes the show "important" and relevant.

And sorry to disagree with you in regards to sexism/inequality in the workplace, but the dichotomy has changed, simple as that. And that's not a statement akin to "racism is over because Obama got elected" -- It's just a fact. In most lines of work this is ZERO issue now; Hell, I'm a male working under a female. While sexism/equality in the workplace is surely still an issue of some sort, it's by NO means a major one.

[April Saul]

Posted: 4/9/09 at 6:03pm

Hey, I'm in a male-dominated profession and sexism in the workplace is alive and well...trust me! Miracle, glad to hear the rush seats are decent because I wasn't looking to pay big bucks; what time did you have to get there to get your seat?

[April Saul]

Posted: 4/9/09 at 6:14pm

Whoops...never mind, Miracle, I found the info I was looking for on the other thread about rush! Sorry...

[WishingOnlyWounds2]

Posted: 4/9/09 at 10:54pm

I have to disagree. I've been listening to the demos and the songs are already stuck in my head.

[Unknown User]

Posted: 4/9/09 at 11:08pm

"While sexism/equality in the workplace is surely still an issue of some sort, it's by NO means a major one."
_________________________________________________________________________________
Oh how wrong you are, misogynistic one!! What the hell country do you live in?

"Women earned 59% of the wages men earned in 1963; in 2005 they earned 81% of men's wages?an improvement of about half a penny per dollar earned every year. Why is there still such a disparity?"

"Women have made enormous progress in the workforce since the Equal Pay Act, but the stubborn fact remains that four-and-a-half decades later the basic goal of the act has not been realized."

I wish people would educate themselves before making stupid statements. This show is incredibly relevant. Until our Congress and the President's Cabinet reflect the population represented (and in case you don't know, females are the majority of the population), we have an extreme amount of sexism to overcome. Get a clue.
There is no greater equalizer than money.
The Wage Gap

[singtopher]

Posted: 4/9/09 at 11:43pm

I agree whole-heartedly with your review Miracle.

Also, (not sure if it was mentioned on here yet) but they did stop the show tonight. At the end of "I Just Might" the sound went out. The started the next scene where Maria (Ioana alfonso) starts taking about wages. The voice of god came over to stop. Ioana then said, "Or we could just take a break." The audience roared, and the character she is addressing (I believe it's Margaret) took her flask out of the desk and started drinking as the blackout curtain lowered. A couple minutes later they started back again.

[RentBoy86]

Posted: 4/9/09 at 11:45pm

The songs are stuck in your head because you're listening to them on repeat.


Go see the show, and the next day try and hum a tune. I can't. It's like "The Wedding Singer" or "Shrek." The songs served their purpose, but they don't excite me enough to want a second listen. "Get Out and Stay Out" (if that's it?) was probably the best song in the bunch, but I always just really like Block in the show. I thought "Backwoods Barbie" was decent too, but it seemed so out of place? It was like this twangy country song stuck in the middle of this show. I felt like someone switched the radio on from the early 90s all of a sudden.

[WishingOnlyWounds2]

Posted: 4/9/09 at 11:49pm

I haven't listened to them on repeat. I also have had "Who I'd Be" stuck in my head a lot. So we obviously have different opinions on songs. But, to say they don't get stuck in peoples' head is not true.

[RentBoy86]

Posted: 4/9/09 at 11:53pm

Yes, we obviously do.

"Who I'd Be" is alright. I think it fits into the show nicely, but nothing to write home about.

I'm curious to know how the Original Score Tony will go. "Next to Normal" has the best Tony (minus the awful "I miss the Mountains"), but "Billy Elliot" has some great moments. And Dolly Parton is an audience favorite.

[madbrian]

Posted: 4/9/09 at 11:54pm

I was there tonight, too. I really enjoyed it, but my expectations weren't too high. It was fun, it was entertaining, and Janney was hysterical. The only songs I can even recall are One Of The Boys, Get Out And Stay Out, and Backwoods Barbie. Oh, and the sets truly are amazing.

***Possible Spoiler*** I really liked the allusion to Wicked, seemed like almost half the audience got it.

[RentBoy86]

Posted: 4/9/09 at 11:56pm

Why were the sets amazing? I just don't get it. What was "smart" or "amazing" about them? It was an office that looked like an office? And a house that looked like a house.

[MiracleElixir]

Posted: 4/9/09 at 11:58pm

Misogynist? Seriously? Because I don't think "9 to 5" is a topical, relevant, important show due to its bold, life-changing message of "women are as good as men"? Seriously, misogynist means someone who demeans and loathes women -- I may not want to have sex with them, but I love women and certainly don't advocate their inequality (well, maybe just YOURS, you hateful harpy).

I'm sorry, but while there are some lines of work where this is still an issue, it's massively diminished. There are women CEOs all over the place, and just as many businesses and institutions where the gender bias has even started to come about the other way around. I never said that sexism didn't still exist, just that it's now about 40-50 slots down on the "important problems that need solving" list, rather than the top 5.

Anyway, back to the topic of the show...

[MiracleElixir]

Posted: 4/10/09 at 12:02am

Awww, Rentboy, our tastes were aligning so well! You don't like "I Miss the Mountains"?!!?

[singtopher]

Posted: 4/10/09 at 12:04am

I have to agree with Rentboy about the set. While it offerend plenty of spectacle, and I was constantly going, "Hey, look at how the set moves" was was there I didn't feel as if it was terribly interesting to look at (save for the really neat jumbo tron backdrop)

My favorite set goes to Billy Elliott.

[MiracleElixir]

Posted: 4/10/09 at 12:10am

Is it just me, or is this a supremely lame season in for New Musicals? In my opinion, the only things even worthy of a nomination are "Next to Normal" and "[title of show]".

[amoni]

Posted: 4/10/09 at 12:10am

"but if anyone LOVES this show, they're either pushing themselves to be as enthusiastic as their hopeful/wishful expectations, or they're waaaay too easy to please."

Wow, smell you. Who are you say someone doesn't love it sincerely?

[Unknown User]

Posted: 4/10/09 at 12:11am

Actually ME, you are the one that sounds like an uneducated, hateful, spoiled harpy! Talk to the single moms who wish to someday be able to see a Broadway play, after you've seen N2N for the 12th X. And after establishing a commission on women, I'm glad to see our president has it in HIS top 5! What a simp u r.

[RentBoy86]

Posted: 4/10/09 at 12:11am

I just feel like with all the money they had that was the most creative the set could get? I was happy when I saw the show curtain because it was sort of interesting and whimsical, but the sets were just so standard and by-the-book.

And heck yeah, I hate "I Miss The Mountains!" It's horrible! I wish it were cut so I could listen to the album all the way through, but I can't!

[cantstandbrody]

Posted: 4/10/09 at 12:11am

BLA-BLA-BLA BLA are you for real? Its a great show!!!!!!!!

[MiracleElixir]

Posted: 4/10/09 at 12:14am

Hmm... it doesn't seem worth it to respond when those attacking you can barely muster up full sentences, decent grammar or even spelling out complete words...


"Smell you."

"What a simp u r."

"BLA-BLA-BLA BLA are you for real? Its a great show!!!!!!"


Man, what good arguments! I stand corrected.