OK, so this thread seems to have turned into a 'review of Brantley's review' (along with a slew of bitchy personal comments - gotta love BWW): NOT!
One question: does the NYT review REALLY matter that much any more?
I saw a few shows in NYC last month and found Next To Normal and 9-5 by far the most enjoyable amongst them. I would be absolutely delighted if N2N won the Tony for Best Musical (especially as it's a new & original American piece), and I can't see anyone beating Alice Ripley to the 'best leading actress in a musical' award (much as I ADORED Allison Janney and am glad she received such positive notices).
But I agree with those who think Brantley's review was OTT, overly-vindictive and somewhat poisonous. 9-5 doesn't set its stall out to be anything other than a crowd-pleaser which may well draw a new/different audience to the theatre. In fact I think it succeeds far better in that respect than many of the Disney/Dreamworks shows I've seen. If it draws crowds for that reason, then more power to it (and less to the negativity espoused by BB and some of the regulars on BWW and ATC whose condescension to those who have different opinions seems to know no bounds).
Thoughts? (preferably minus any personal abuse directed at me or my POV)!
Seen some shows in my time....
Updated On: 5/1/09 at 06:23 PM