"Nine" - original 1982 Production

[BobNC]

Posted: 3/13/14 at 10:41pm

I am a Broadway musical junkie. I've seen them all in the last 40 years. Enjoyed most, but, none have moved me as much as the original production of "Nine." While I wasn't fond of the Banderas revival and despised the film version, the original lives so vividly in my mind. Did you see it? What were your thoughts? Why has history not been very kind to it?

[PalJoey]

Posted: 3/13/14 at 11:03pm

Because Anita Morris.




Anita Morris TV Commercial for Nine (1982)

[ARTc3]

Posted: 3/13/14 at 11:21pm

I too am a Broadway musical junkie and have seen most of them in the last 40 years. Surprisingly, I was bored stiff at the original production of, Nine. I couldn't wait for it to end. Clearly, I'm in the minority as it had a healthy run, received critical acclaim, and a Tony. My vote was for Dreamgirls that year. In fact, I have always thought Dreamgirls was robbed.

To each his own...

Updated On: 3/13/14 at 11:21 PM

[After Eight]

Posted: 3/13/14 at 11:43pm

I thought the original was very stylish and beautiful to look at. It definitely deserved the Tony over Dreamgirls.

The revival was good, but not as effective.

The film version was awful.

[Charley Kringas Inc]

Posted: 3/14/14 at 4:17am

I dearly wish I could have seen the original production. I've heard it described but I can only imagine seeing that vivacious cast in person. The cast recording is so wonderfully earthy and real ("Simple" is the big goosebumps crying number for me), it was just awful seeing and hearing it get torn to ribbons in the misguided film.

[bobs3]

Posted: 3/14/14 at 5:17am

I thought the first act was great, the second act not so much -- except for Karen Ackers rendition of "Be on Your Own" -- although I preferred Elaine Paige's new arrangement of the song on her album "Stages".

[Someone in a Tree2]

Posted: 3/14/14 at 7:20am

Yes many of the performances in the OBC were wonderful. But frankly I too was bored by the staging of the original. In retrospect, it's as if Tommy Tune's unit set of pedestals for each character anticipated the concert staging style of Encores for the last 20 years. (I also found that gridded white set design atrocious-- but to each his own.)

I must be the only one I know who found the Banderas revival dangerous, gorgeous, completely thrilling, and better sung and acted than the original. I've never enjoyed another David Leveaux production as much as this show. I guess I'm a sucker for putting the aqua-alta season in St Mark's Square right onstage! A highlight of my theatergoing that season I'm thrilled to have seen.

[henrikegerman]

Posted: 3/14/14 at 7:26am

Why do you say history has not been kind to it?

[BobNC]

Posted: 3/14/14 at 7:41am

Thanks. I will have to check out Elaine's new version. Love that song (and most of the songs) in the show.

[BobNC]

Posted: 3/14/14 at 7:43am

Other than true theater aficionados, when I cite it as one of my all-time favorite musicals, I get blank stares or, responses like some of the ones in this thread.

I saw the original cast 3 times. One time was during the blizzard of '83 when I managed to walk from East Village to TKTS and got the best seats.

I loved the original version of "Dreamgirls" as well. Tough Tony race that year.

Also, has 'Nine" ever toured?

Updated On: 3/14/14 at 07:43 AM

[henrikegerman]

Posted: 3/14/14 at 8:23am

Thanks, Bob. Your question took me by surprise because not only in my experience did most people enjoy the original and fondly recall Tune's direction, Julia, Montevecchi, Morris, Akers, etc. the production values and the score, but the show has had a major, successful and very starry revival and unlike the vast majority of late twentieth century musicals even made it to the big screen (albeit not successfully. Seems like history has been quite kind to it.

Updated On: 3/14/14 at 08:23 AM

[Huey's Pop]

Posted: 3/14/14 at 8:58am

Yes, Nine toured. I saw it in Los Angeles. I've always thought that the best part of the show is its original cast album, which seemed to play non stop in my home for many years.

The last time I saw Nine was at a 99-seat local theater. The male lead was engaged to one of the women in the cast. They never married though -- shortly after the performance, he was arrested for the murder of two people in a scheme to get money for his honeymoon. Bizarre! (A double tradegy because his performance in the show was really good and I was looking forward to seeing him in other productions)

Updated On: 3/15/14 at 08:58 AM

[StageStruckLad]

Posted: 3/14/14 at 9:32am

Funny that two of THE most hotly contested Tony races for Best Musicals involved Tommy Tune shows: Nine vs. Dreamgirls and Grand Hotel vs. City of Angels.

Of course, one of the other most hotly contested was 1983 with La Cage up against Sunday in the Park. No Tommy Tune show in the running that year.

[tazber]

Posted: 3/14/14 at 9:33am

I don't think that's right StageStruck.

City of Angels and Grand both won Best Musical.

ETA: Nope, I'm wrong. City of Angels won over Grand Hotel

Updated On: 3/14/14 at 09:33 AM

[StageStruckLad]

Posted: 3/14/14 at 9:37am

I just double-checked. Grand Hotel lost to City of Angels that year. Unfairly, I thought at the time. Maybe City of Angels was better written, but I will never forget the overall experience of Grand Hotel. Pure theatrical magic!

Updated On: 3/14/14 at 09:37 AM

[tazber]

Posted: 3/14/14 at 9:38am

Yea, I edited my post.

Tommy Tune did win best director however.

[Gothampc]

Posted: 3/14/14 at 10:06am

Excuse the threadjack:

"Maybe City of Angels was better written, but I will never forget the overall experience of Grand Hotel."

While both are excellent shows, I remember Grand Hotel was mocked for being a show about moving chairs around the stage. City of Angels had that fascinating design of moving from color to black and white, so I think City of Angels was favored purely for how impressive it was. Either way, neither of these brilliant shows has been revived and it's a shame that we get a zillion Gypsys, Sweeney Todds and Companys and yet don't see either of these shows.

[tazber]

Posted: 3/14/14 at 10:11am

I agree! These are 2 of my favorite shows.

[best12bars]

Posted: 3/14/14 at 10:32am

City of Angels and Grand Hotel would both make good films, in the right hands.

I love the score to Nine. One of my favorites from the '80s or from any decade, actually.

[tazber]

Posted: 3/14/14 at 10:41am

Again I agree.

Nine is one easily in my top 5 favorite scores.

[newintown]

Posted: 3/14/14 at 10:52am

The original production of Nine was brilliant, every aspect of it - book, lyrics, music, design, direction, performances - was perfection. When Sergio Franchi took over from Raul Julia, the perfection cracked. And while the Banderas production had a lot going for it, it was still a pale shadow of the original's perfection.

I also loved Grand Hotel, but was perfectly fine with City of Angels, another terrific show, to get the award. It would be glorious to have a season with two such shows, shows that excel at form and content.

[tazber]

Posted: 3/14/14 at 11:00am

I recently had the chance to see a recording of the original production of Nine and Tune's direction was brilliant.

Question:

ibdb has Montevecchi listed as winning supporting actress. For some reason I always thought Anita Morris won. Is ibdb wrong or am I remembering incorrectly?

Also, Raul Julia really should have won best actor over Ben Harney.

Updated On: 3/14/14 at 11:00 AM

[newintown]

Posted: 3/14/14 at 11:23am

From the Tony website:
Actress (Featured Role--Musical)
Winner - Liliane Montevecchi (Nine)
Nominees:
Karen Akers (Nine)
Laurie Beechman (Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat)
Anita Morris (Nine)

[tazber]

Posted: 3/14/14 at 11:26am

Thanks newintown.

(Anita should have won, imo)

[SonofRobbieJ]

Posted: 3/14/14 at 11:27am

Wasn't Montevecchi's win a bit of a surprise at the time, as many people thought Morris would get it?

Just thinking about seeing City of Angels and Grand Hotel within weeks of each other as a high schooler makes me long for the old view, George.