Nine: The Musical. Just might be the finest ever written

I think it is a great show. I have only seen two productions, the original and the revival with Antonio Banderas. Very different and I thought both were great. To me, the score and direction (both productions, but especially the original) may together be close to the finest..., but I have always thought the book was a little choppy, which I admit may have been due to the episodic nature of the basic story. I also think it took too long to care at all about Guido, which was probably the intention.

Ironically, I would've said that Gypsy was the finest ever written, but lately I have found myself getting bored periodically during the show (off the top of my head, I have seen productions of Dolly, Les Mis, Follies, Evita, The Producers, Mame, Company, and A Little Night Music more than Gypsy, but I have never been bored in any of those). So, I would have to think long and hard re the finest ever written.

The movie to me was even worse than anyone here has said so far. That big production number that Kate Hudson did was, to me, maybe the single worst number in musical film history. I cannot think of a movie musical based on a Broadway production that came close to being as bad as this one...wait, I can. The movie version of The Producers was just as bad as this,which is amazing when you consider the fact that it practically duplicated the show...which of course was the problem...it was not cinematic. (The other oneI could mention is Mame, but that is for me a guilty pleasure, i.e., I know it is bad and that Lucy is atrocious, but I find enough to enjoy in it that it is not in the same league as Nine and The Producers. c

Interestingly enough, I'm working on a production of "Phantom" right now, and it has one of the worst books I've ever experienced. And the music is very hit or miss. And just funny to think this same team gave us the beauty that is "Nine."

I love the score but have never seen it live on stage, I've rarely come across a live production here in UK/Europe I could attend.

Amateur societies seem to steer away from it.

Also, the treatment of women as objects is problematic, I'd love to see it reimagined and the book torn to shreds.

Would Nine be the same without that objectification though? I think the whole patriarchal, Catholic, Italian machismo being confronted with women is a big part of the show (and original Fellini film that the the show is based on).

ScottyDoesn'tKnow2 said: "WouldNinebe the same without that objectification though? I think the whole patriarchal, Catholic, Italian machismo being confronted with women is a big part of the show (and original Fellini film that the the show is based on)."

I understand what you mean I just think there is a way to reverse the gaze. Make the audience the ones on view, not the women. Something imaginative like they did with the Oklahoma at St Annes.

Gizmo6 said: "ScottyDoesn'tKnow2 said: "WouldNinebe the same without that objectification though? I think the whole patriarchal, Catholic, Italian machismo being confronted with women is a big part of the show (and original Fellini film that the the show is based on)."

I understand what you mean I just think there is a way to reverse the gaze. Make the audience the ones on view, not the women. Something imaginative like they did with the Oklahomaat St Annes."

That's really interesting. I'd be interested in seeing a reconceived production of this.

Rosscoe, I just saw the Melbourne production on Thursday (I assume it's the same one you saw) and loved it. 'Nine' is one of my top 5 musicals and so we managed to plan a trip to Melbourne to see it...as well as 'School of Rock' and 'Gentleman's Guide To Love and Murder'. Everyone who came with me loved the show as well, so I'm glad we were able to fit it into our trip. I saw the Antonio Banderas Broadway revival and that's when I fell in love with the musical. That was just a beautiful production and made a big impact on me.