9 to 5 The Musical

Last night I went to see 9 to 5 the Musical w/ my boy PY. PY likes musicals just like me, so I took him to see 9 to 5 the Musical. I didn't think this musical was going to be very good, so I wanted to take someone that would be able to handle a flop. However, because of PY's love for musicals he was rewarded w/ one of the best shows I've seen since Wicked & Avenue Q.

It was funny, entertaining, and completely sensational. With lines like "You say one more word about me and I'll change you from a rooster to a hen with one shot!", "I'm not a red hot mama!", and "where else can you talk bad about someone and feel good about yourself", you will laugh your ass off. Starring Allison Janney (Violet) best know for her role on The West Wing, Megan Hilty (Doralee) - who began her career as Glinda in Wicked and (I believe) she took over for Kristin Chenoweth and Stephanie J. Block (Judy) played Elphaba when Wicked came to LA for the first time. These three ladies were amazing and kept the pace of the show going, with very little "lull time".

The story is about three women who at work at Consolidated and at first don't like each other. Judy is the new girl, Doralee is rumored to have slept w/ the boss Mr. Hart (played by Marc Kudisch) whose performance was also very very good! I'm not sure how he sang being hung up about 40 feet in the air... very reminiscent of Elphaba in Wicked when she sings "Defying Gravity". Violet is the strong, responsible one that everyone looks up to and really knows the business, but keeps getting looked over because she's a woman. I'm not gonna give away the story, because that's part of the experience, but in the end as w/ all good musicals...the three end up becoming friends.

I give 9 to 5 the Musical
4 Stars because it was freaking AWESOME. The set design was one of the best I've seen. The staging and choreography were excellent. The dialogue was witty and hilarious. The only negative was Allison Janney's singing. Now, it wasn't as bad as Pierce Brosnan in Mamma Mia, but it wasn't on par w/ all the other amazing singers. However, she more than made up for it w/ her acting performance. Megan Hilty was amazing and did a good impression of Dolly Parton w/out detracting from her own performance and making the character her own. The story plot was kinda cheesy and over the top, but the dialogue carries it along with well placed songs. The songs were everything one would expect from a musical. Funny songs, like "5 to 9" where Roz (Mr. Hart's admin) sings a funny song in the bathroom to a gut-wrenching soul searching song entitled "Get Out and Stay Out" performed beautifully by Stephanie J. Block. and of course there is the theme song "9 to 5" which is wonderfully weaved throughout the musical to create a glue that makes this musical flow. If anyone can walk away from this musical and not get the "9 to 5" song stuck in their heads... I commend them. I haven't seen the movie, but I definitely recommend this musical to EVERYONE.