So I recently caught the preview of 9 to 5: The Musical in LA. I thought I'd write down some of my thoughts on it.

Overall, this is highly entertaining and while not of 'Sondheim-caliber' is still a good musical. No, the music is not that complex and in fact rather simplistic (it's by Dolly Parton), it is easy on the ear and the lyrics are funny. None of the songs, aside from the title song really stay with you after the show however the songs are picturized extremely well by director Joe Mantello and choreographer Andy Blankenbaur (yeah it's spelled wrong, but I don't care enough to google it). The most enjoyable is the three song medley near the end of the first act with "Dance O' Death", "Cowgirl's Revenge" and "Potion Notion". The songs stem from a scene in which the three protagonists, Judy (Stephanie J. Block), Doralee (Megan Hilty), and Violet (Allison Janney) get high and fantasize about killing the boss (Marc Kudisch). The first song is good, with SJB acting like a femme-fetale, while Hilty's segmant is a bit weaker relegating her to just acting out Dolly Parton's cowgirl dreams (which is a shame because she has a good set of pipes but doesn't get scope to use them). The best is definitely Janney's song which is like a twisted Disney princess fairytale, the best being the three leads dressed in variations of dresses worn by Belle/ Snow White/ Cinderella/ etc. with a projection of animated singing birds (think Snow White or Bambi style). It is so over the top and ridiculous you can't help but love it (and the leads all seem to enjoy themselves tremendously).

The last song in the first act, "Shine Like the Sun" while having a lot of belting for Hilty and SJB--Janney can't sing on that level (she also doesn't claim to be a musical theater actress like her counterparts)--is a bit like a female lovefest and not as high energetically as the previously mentioned trilogy. In the second act there are two good songs, Janney's "One of the Boys" which is a showbizzy song which really reminds me of "Putting on the Ritz" from Young Frankenstein. The other is SJB's I want song "Get Out and Stay Out". Sadly Hilty doesn't get another solo which really sucks because I prefer her voice over that of the other two leads. Actually I am rather disappointed by the role given to Hilty in the while show, she basically gets to play Dolly, not Doralee. She gets the accent and behavior down perfectly, but doesn't really get a chance to make it her own since she is relegated to playing a living person (who just happens to be the composer). There is funny scene where SJB basically feels up Hilty (when high of course asking, "Are these real" to which Doralee quipsm "As real as the hair").

Overall, this show has high production values, with extensive use of automated sets and the trap doors. Most of the sets are drop-ins as opposed to being on tracks. Likewise, it is dance-heavy with lots of use of the ensemble and quite a few costume changes. The show moves a long at a good pace but I'd change the intermission to happen after the three song medley instead of "Shine Like the Sun" since that song has better energy and would better balance out the 1.5 hr first act to 30 minute second act ratio (however that would break all conventional rules of musical theater). Highlights include Roz (Kathy Fitzgerald's) songs especially "Hart to Heart" with the topless dancer in the back and the black woman singing in the mirror behind her.

Anyway while it won't the Tony for Best Musical ([title of the show] will just because it is small, closed already, and is 'artsy' paying homage to theater-insiders) it is definitely going to be one of the best shows to open this season.