NINE TO FIVE. WORKS!
NINE TO FIVE. WORKS!
CurtainPullDowner
Broadway Legend Joined: 11/4/04
#1NINE TO FIVE. WORKS!
Posted: 4/15/09 at 2:14am
What a fun night.
Yes the book is a bit creaky and it rounds everything up in a quick silly way, but the talent and creativity make up for that small complaint.
Scott Pask's set is pretty amazing, heavy on techno but it sets all the moods and locations and manages to elicit oohs and aahs when it spins it's magic. It's a complete opposite from Pask's simple, set for HAIR. He has had a great season.
Fisher and Posner's lighting are also spot on and enhancing. The imaging by Peter Negrini and Peggy Eisenhauer are icing on the cake. They whirl up a great Thunderstorm for Block. William Ivy Long makes the ugly styles of the day amusing and is a wonder with color.
And that CAST! It is an incredible group of actors, singers and dancers with not a single second rater among them.
Allison Janney is the revelation the out of town critics claimed she is. Singing, dancing and commanding the stage from her first step. Megan Hilty couldn't have been better as Dolly, I mean Doralee. She nails the accent, the double D's and best of all the heart of the character. Her wigs by Paul Huntley and Edward J. Wilson are a curlish delight. Her singing is infectous, warm and inspiring.
I am now a bigger fan of Block's than I was before. She follows Judy's arc from mouse to Mouse That Roared sweetly. She applies her dancing skills and she sings like nobody else out there.
Her GET OUT AND STAY OUT is the most thrilling musical comedy moment of this season and many others.
Marc Kudish adds another medal on his Leading Man hairy chest.
(yes TONY commitee, he is the Leading Man).
He sounds great and and milks the snarling than befuddled character for every laugh.
Kathy Fitzgerald adds merriment to the mix and Andy Karl has to be the most likable young knight in a turtleneck on the boards right now.
If awards must be discussed, this show will get a butt load of nominations, every technical and design artist is deserving of recognition, Montello and his whole team. Winning will be difficult because BILLY has more heart, and may sweep.
Kudisch should get Leading Actor noms, he is the Leading Man and he's also funny.
Seperating the women is tricky, different award have different criteria so look for these three ladies all over the critics and other awards.
Janney is gonna be up there for every leading contention and Hilty is giving a better performance than many award winners.
Block gave me chills and the knockout performance of my Theatrical Season so I would hand her any award in any category.
This isn't serious stuff, till Block starts belting, it's a very good time in a dreary recession.
That's what I think.
Updated On: 4/15/09 at 02:14 AM
#2re: NINE TO FIVE. WORKS!
Posted: 4/15/09 at 2:17amThank you so much for your joyous review! I cannot wait to go next month!
#2re: NINE TO FIVE. WORKS!
Posted: 4/15/09 at 2:31amI agree on all counts. In any other season, this would sweep the awards. I hope it gets some, but I'm afraid that Billy's dramatic aspects will tug at the hearts of the voters.
CurtainPullDowner
Broadway Legend Joined: 11/4/04
#3re: NINE TO FIVE. WORKS!
Posted: 4/15/09 at 2:39am
Damn, I didn't mention Dolly's wonderful Debut Broadway score.
The Big numbers are foot stomping, and clapable and her sweeter tunes are character driven and hummable.
She and Elton are gonna be quite a fight.
#4re: NINE TO FIVE. WORKS!
Posted: 4/15/09 at 2:56amHer boobs can, will, and already have taken Elton down with one foul swing.
#5re: NINE TO FIVE. WORKS!
Posted: 4/15/09 at 3:15amI am SO happy for all the love!! Only wish I could be there to see it myself =) Thanks for the review, Curtain!
PiraguaGuy2
Broadway Legend Joined: 10/10/08
#6re: NINE TO FIVE. WORKS!
Posted: 4/15/09 at 7:20amI can't wait to see this in its New York incarnation. I have to point out, though, that you can't call Marc Kudisch the leading actor just because he's the man with he biggest part. He will be campaigned for his (wonderful) Featured performance, and stands a good chance of winning (Sieber is his main competition, though Jbara could play the veteran card). The word gets thrown around a lot, but he is one of those actors who is truly "overdue". Just think about all the great performances he's given - Millie, Apple Tree, Assassins, Chitty Chitty Bang Bang...
#7re: NINE TO FIVE. WORKS!
Posted: 4/15/09 at 8:19am
I loved 9 To 5, and Kudisch is a strong contender for featured, but I hate, Hate, HATE when people throw around words like 'overdue' and 'finally' when it's not warranted. He did mostly ensemble and replacement work before Millie, which was only six or seven years ago. Let's save words like 'finally' for times when it's appropriate, like when discussing performers like Tovah Feldshuh or Terrence Mann. Look at their resumes, and you'll see what I mean.
***Gets down from soap-box***
#8re: NINE TO FIVE. WORKS!
Posted: 4/15/09 at 8:36am
***Gets down from soap-box***
YOu are like the 5th person I have heard (not on this board tho) say this, did I miss the memo? Is this back in? "Are bare feet in, or do you just have your shoes off?"
Phyllis Rogers Stone
Broadway Legend Joined: 9/16/07
#9re: NINE TO FIVE. WORKS!
Posted: 4/15/09 at 9:06am
Yes the book is a bit creaky and it rounds everything up in a quick silly way, but the talent and creativity make up for that small complaint
It's the new Wicked!
#10re: NINE TO FIVE. WORKS!
Posted: 4/15/09 at 9:56am
But the Wicked book is so creaky that it's damn near ready to break off and crumble into a million pieces every night. The book is miles better than Wicked's. Plus, the deus ex machina is a lot less deus ex machina-y than many other musical comedies... and since when is the deus ex machina not a convention of the musical comedy genre?
The whole thing is big silly fun, whereas Wicked is a big silly (bloated) bore.
-best12bars
"Sorry I am a Theatre major not a English Major"
-skibumb5290
CurtainPullDowner
Broadway Legend Joined: 11/4/04
#11re: NINE TO FIVE. WORKS!
Posted: 4/15/09 at 10:13am
I know it has been discussed to death, but Kudisch will not be "campaigning" for featured Actor. Since he is not above the title he is automatically considered for featured unless the Producers submit him for Leading *which I think they should.
I believe Siebert is the front runner for "featured" with Swenson the dark horse.
Whatever happens. Kudisch should get a nom in either category, but I don't believe he will win this year.
broadwayrocks2
Stand-by Joined: 1/10/08
#12re: NINE TO FIVE. WORKS!
Posted: 4/15/09 at 10:56amI must say 9 to 5 was a great night in the theater !!!!I liked it better than BE !
#13re: NINE TO FIVE. WORKS!
Posted: 4/18/09 at 11:01pm
I just wanted to give my two cents to agree with what was posted. I went to Wednesday night's performance and thought it was one of the most fun I've had on Broadway. The cast is, indeed, wonderful and the music. The music! Fabulous! I wish it a very, very successful run.
singingbackup
Broadway Legend Joined: 11/3/06
#14re: NINE TO FIVE. WORKS!
Posted: 4/20/09 at 1:56am
I felt the same when I saw it in LA. It might have a few problems, but it was great great fun. What's wrong with that!
PS Janney is pure Joy!
#15re: NINE TO FIVE. WORKS!
Posted: 4/20/09 at 8:21amI really hope that this wins compared to Billy Elliott. I saw the show last year and thought it was boring. I didn't like it at all.. 9 to 5 should win all categories.
WestVillage
Broadway Star Joined: 7/20/05
#16re: NINE TO FIVE. WORKS!
Posted: 4/20/09 at 11:04amOh, please ... BE is a FAR better show than that 9 to 5 drivel, which is just a bad carbon copy of the movie, with lousy songs thrown in. 9 to 5 won't win any awards. It is this season's Legally Blonde.
#17re: NINE TO FIVE. WORKS!
Posted: 4/20/09 at 11:50amLet's not be haters here. Billy Elliot and 9 to 5 both have a lot going for them and I think it's going to be an interesting Tony Race.
WestVillage
Broadway Star Joined: 7/20/05
#18re: NINE TO FIVE. WORKS!
Posted: 4/20/09 at 12:16pm9 to 5 couldn't even manage a Best Musical nomination from Outer Critics Circle ... only 3 noms: choreography, Hilty and Fitzgerald. BE on the other hand got 10 noms. Seems to reflect that the nominators did not like 9 to 5. Not a surprise at all.
WickedPirate2
Chorus Member Joined: 6/19/07
#19re: NINE TO FIVE. WORKS!
Posted: 4/20/09 at 12:43pm
Um, i'm sorry...did you see the rest of the nominations? They were pretty laughable..
I still don't understand why people have to hate on certain shows...You didn't like it? Fantastic...move on!
jordangirl
Broadway Legend Joined: 10/1/06
#20re: NINE TO FIVE. WORKS!
Posted: 4/20/09 at 12:49pm
BE is a FAR better show than that 9 to 5 drivel, which is just a bad carbon copy of the movie, with lousy songs thrown in.
I haven't seen 9 to 5 yet. but really... Billy Elliot is only SLIGHTLY more than a carbon copy of the movie (throw in a ghost mom to tug at the heartstrings, flesh out a couple of things here and there, etc.), and its score isn't the greatest either. I'm not saying I hate it, but I was very disappointed in the incarnation I saw here in NYC. And even loving it in London, it still felt musicalized movie to me.
LIVE THAT LESSON!!!!!!
manaboutown
Chorus Member Joined: 9/28/08
#21re: NINE TO FIVE. WORKS!
Posted: 4/20/09 at 1:21pmummmm the Outer Critics noms are ridiculous. 9 to 5 hasn't even opened yet! Give me a break! Nobody takes these noms seriously. Most importantly it will do brilliantly with the tourists and group sales this summer. That is really what producers want...not some weird critics awards that see a show still in previews..... ugh.
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