9to5: how do you guys feel?

[Matteo]

Posted: 2/25/11 at 12:15pm

Back in 2009, I saw the 4th preview of 9to5 on Broadway. I absolutely loved the show, and didn't really understand why it should close. It was defintely not the best thing I had ever seen, but it was undoubtedly fun.
About 2 months ago, I saw the tour when it came to my town. Though the set was not close to broadway at all, the show seemed so much more precise and the choreography was 10,000 times better, almost flawless.

So my question is: do you guys think that if 9to5 had the current tour choreographer, the original Broadway set, and had opened during a season not so plagued by the economy, do you think it could have stayed open?

[Matteo]

Posted: 2/25/11 at 12:17pm

Basically, I guess I'm asking if you think the show itself was the downfall, or if the real downfall was the fact that it was missing the flair that the tour provides

[goodoneinlou2]

Posted: 2/25/11 at 1:15pm

I saw 9 to 5 on Broadway and have seen the touring production.

I'll start by saying most of my interest in this show is based on the fact that I love Dolly, love the movie (it's in my top 3)and love the movie's theme-song. Those factors made me flip when I heard it was coming to Broadway. I was a fan, and championed the show from the start.

I found the show (both on Broadway and on the road) "cute." It was frilly with no real weight to it. At the time when the movie came out, many of the topics used as humor were actual issues of the era. The movie worked because of the stellar perfs, but also because of it's relevance at the time. Because times have changed, the Broadway version didn't couldn't carry as much humorous weight with it. Thus a nostalgic approach had to be taken.

I had the same feeling when I left the theatre on Broadway as I did when I left after the touring production. It was fun, light and enjoyable, but I wished I loved it more... or at least half as much as I do the movie.

From a production standpoint, Broadway (obviously) had a much more substantial feel to it. I LOVED the sets on Broadway and the overall feel. I felt the weightiness of the sets added a wow factor that the show needed. (I wish I could rewind time and again watch that office set rise and magically appear onstage!) However, Broadway's book had horrible "lags" to it. There were times when there were pauses in dialogue (for humor's sake) and deafening silence in the audience. It was as if the book writer, director and actors never knew if they'd get laughs - so they'd pause - only to minor chukles. In comparison to the movie, the funniest part (IMO) could not be repeated on stage. The high point of the movie is the hysterically funny scene where the ladies arrive at the hospital, steal the body and the frantic drive that ensues. Onstage it was reduced to a painful scene with Violet pushing the body around hospital drapes amidst unfunny jokes. This scene (although acted over-the-top) landed with a thud. Finally, the show writers found it necessary to add a love interest for Violet. IMO that's the worst decision they could have made. Heck, it negates the whole theme of female empowerment if you ask me.

The tour has filled in some of those gaps to the story. They've streamlined some parts that draaaaged on Broadway. However the hospital scene remains as dull as it was on stage. The bad jokes added for Broadway ("Just Do It" - hey that sounds catchy") remain and flop just as they did before. The set for the tour is pitiful. It serves it's purpose, but seems amatuerish after having seen the scenery fleshed out on Broadway. What's really odd is that some remnants of the Broadway set were encorporated into the tour (the back of Violet's car, the couch/furniture from Violets house, etc.) The choreography in the tour, IMO, was sub-par... but seems more interactive because it was necessary to disguise the fact that the cast now moves the scenery by hand. The best change the tour made was encorporating Dolly into the show. Although I wish she had popped up more than at the beginning and end.

On Broadway, I greatly enjoyed Megan Hilty and Allison Janney's performances but I found Stephanie J Block mis-cast as Judy. Maybe because she was the first Elphaba I ever saw, and I just don't see her as the meek, timid, mousey type. On the road, I found Dee Hoty to be on par with Janney - but she sang it better. I found Mamie Paris to be the standout - she was flawless as Judy, absolutely perfect. Diana DeGarmo was horrific as Doralee... it was like watching her do an imitation of Minnie Mouse with a bad, fleeting country accent.

I love to listen to people's reactions at intermission and after a show... and both on Broadway and on the road I heard the same comments. "It was fun"."The movie was better." etc. Not once did I hear "Wow, that was incredible." or "I can't wait to see that again." As hard as I wanted people to fall in love with it... they didn't. Nor did I.

What's really funny is, the music Dolly wrote for the show is very, very clever and whitty. She's a genious when it comes to telling a story through song. Her music is a standout no matter.

All that having been said, as a whole, I personally found the Broadway version more enjoyable. But I'd much rather watch the movie which still makes me scream with laughter.

That, in itself, is why the show didn't survive Bway... and will likely see a shortened trip on the road. It has nothing to do with the book streamling in the tour, or the different choreography, or simpler vs more complex sets. The show just didn't strike a chord... and that's crucial to any show's success. It was just a tad misguided, and suffered from really poor timing.






Updated On: 2/25/11 at 01:15 PM

[madbrian]

Posted: 2/25/11 at 1:45pm

I am a HUGE fan of the movie, and of Janney, and I was very disappointed in the show. I went in wanting to love it, but it left me flat. Janney is very limited as a singer, but the songs weren't tailored to her. About the only number that worked was Heart To Hart.

[NotSinceCarrie2]

Posted: 2/25/11 at 5:02pm

"9 to 5" was pleasant enough on stage, but it wasn't really going to make anyone forget the movie. I think that's what disapointed me most. TPTB knew this and barely bothered to make the show stand on its own, and when they did, it was embarassing (God save me from those "relevant" jokes). I do have to agree with Dee and Mamie being better singers, though.

[dutch46mill2]

Posted: 2/26/11 at 9:49am

This is a post by Marie2 on the 9 to 5 thread
2 reviews from recent tour stops (St. Louis and Tempe):
From St. Louis:

"9 to 5" was the country superstar's first movie role, and Dolly's been an appealing presence throughout her long career. But with her major involvement, the play skewers heavily in her favor. Her character Doralee, the boss's hubba-hubba secretary who the other gals don't like because they think she's the noxious Franklin Hart's mistress, sure is perky, dispensing down-home wisdom and a never-say-die attitude. Folks cotton to that. Diana DeGarmo, the "American Idol" Season 3 runner-up at age 16, is all grown up now at 23, looking nothing like she did seven years ago. She's still vivacious and has a terrific voice, but she has a va-va-voom, quality playing Dolly's comely character. She was a standout.

Mamie Parris is impressive as the meek Judy Bernly, as played by Jane Fonda in the movie, who needs a job because her scoundrel husband has dumped her for a younger woman (named Mindi with an "i"). Her big brassy solo number "Get Out and Stay Out" was perhaps the strongest on opening night."


From Tempe:
"Something must also be said for DeGarmos depiction of Dolly Partons famous role, Doralee Rhodes. Doralee grows as a character throughout the musical, but more importantly, DeGarmo did extraordinarily well holding on to the essence of Parton and staying away from the persona she developed on American Idol.
Everything was perfect for the part. She was proportional to Parton, her accent was just as sweet and Southern as Partons and her voice was fabulous for the role.
If youre familiar with DeGarmos work, you might be able to pick up on her voice as it comes through when she sings some of the lower notes. Watching her in the role was fabulous  she wasnt just an imitation of Parton; she owned the role in her own way."

http://ow.ly/43R3W



Link to St, Louis review

[Mildred Plotka]

Posted: 2/26/11 at 12:41pm

I'm only going for Dee Hoty.

[luvbrdway]

Posted: 2/26/11 at 9:35pm

Saw the show last night. Diana Degarmo annoyed the hell out of me. She sounded like Kristin Chenoweth on helium. The other two ladies were fabulous. I saw the previews in LA. Loved all 3 ladies and doubted they could be "replaced". But the only one I really missed was Megan Hilty.

Nothing earth shattering, but a fun night at the theatre.

[BenjaminNicholas2]

Posted: 2/26/11 at 10:05pm

It was source material. With Dolly yammering on and on via video in this new incarnation, it's more ridiculous than ever, especially when the audience is asked to sing along during the curtain call. Meh. It's themepark tactic.

And while I think that Hoty is a talent, she has not one fifth of the star power or timing that Janney brought to the OBC. Sure, she was a non-singer, but when she was on stage, you couldn't take your eyes off of her. She is a great actress who did a fantastic job with the role.



BN

[quizking101]

Posted: 2/27/11 at 12:59am

"9 to 5", as many have said, was bogged down by more than just a souring economy. Aside from a few added subplots, it was no more or less the movie. I personally didn't find it earth-shattering, but I didn't hate it. It's was just a fun, hokey, show and a good day out at the theatre.

The choreography was definitely lame at times, but having not seen the tour, I can't really compare.

The set was amazing, with me sometimes blinking and everything was different.

All three leads did a wonderful job with the score (which was just good old-fashioned Broadway), especially Stephanie J. Block and her belting her t!ts off in "Get Out And Stay Out"


To make a long story short (too late), It could've run for probably a little while longer, but not much (maybe 250 performances total at most).

[ahhrealmonsters]

Posted: 2/27/11 at 9:58am

I think it should get out and stay out.


HAHAHAHAHAHA.

Sorry, I had to.

[South Fl Marc]

Posted: 3/12/11 at 11:18am

Wow,

I saw the tour the other night (Don't ask me how , since I am no where near the touring venue). The producers did something I thought impossible. They took a mediocre show that was fun to watch, that had an amazing set and made it worse ... much much worse.

Everything from the sets to the new direction to the idiotic narration by a projected Dolly Parton were dreadful.

If you're near where this show goes ... save your money.

[TxTwoStep]

Posted: 3/12/11 at 1:08pm

i saw LA and NYC and the tour. i'd respectfully disagree with Marc S FL. That's why Baskin Robbins makes so many flavors...for subjectivity.

i think the show was never meant to be art and aimed for an aging (or nostalgic) LEGALLY BLONDE girl-power vibe, which all three incarnations achieved.

i think the tour DID streamline the plot and had some inventive less expensive choices to the B'way version (though i did prefer B'way's "fantasy sequences" for each female lead).

i love Hoty and thought the Judy track much improved on the road (not due to an especially better actress/singer as i love La Block, but due to better bookwriting tweaks in her arc).

DeGarma was fine, and surprised me she had that flavor in her acting (as opposed to basically playing herself); i knew she had country twang in her vocal crayola box already.

if i was producing the tour, i'd have moved heaven and earth to put Laura Bell Bundy in the Doralee role; that might have cemented the LEGALLY BLONDE metaphorical connection and brought a younger female audience to an admittedly-older property. Yes, LBB is trying to establish her recording career and touring some for that, but with enough money and synthesis her camp and that of NINE TO FIVE could have worked that out..after all, LBB's new "sound" is also Nashville.

[bwayphreak234]

Posted: 3/12/11 at 2:07pm

I saw the touring production. The show was good, but just felt kind of mediocre. It wasn't because of the cast and talent, the show just kind of drags on with only a handful of good songs. I can see why this did not do very well on Broadway. Even with a very talented cast, the show it just that interesting. I LOVE the movie, but the stage adaption was just dull.

[TxTwoStep]

Posted: 3/12/11 at 5:24pm

i think i enjoy Parton's songwriting so much that i'm not objective to her work as a stand-alone score. i DO think she writes a good pop narrative song and can write to plot use (like La Block's WICKED-esque Act Two number). Even if just lyrics/melody line bumped up by good orchestrations, Dolly "got" what was asked of her...now if MORE should have been asked, that's another debate.

[jamiekennywicked]

Posted: 3/12/11 at 5:34pm

From Mamie Parris' facebook page
'I'm Judy for the long run, but our last date is July 31st'