'9 to 5' - the Dolly Parton musical

Dolly Parton - obviously a legend. I was already in possession of the Broadway soundtrack for this musical but that was mainly due to Megan Hilty and Stephanie J Block singing two of the leads rather than being a fan of the musical itself. Therefore I was not familiar with the plot but now, having seen it, I must say it was... interesting...

9 to 5 (UK tour) at Richmond Theatre
Performance: Friday 15th February 2013 at 19:30
Seat: Right rear stalls
Cast included: Mark Moraghan (Franklyn J Hart), Jackie Clune (Violet Newstead), Gemma Maclean (Judy Bernley u/s), Amy Lennox (Doralee Rhodes), Bonnie Langford (Roz Keith), Mark Willshire (Joe)

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Plot summary: Judy starts a new job after her husband left her. Her office working skills aren't exactly as great as her CV suggested, however. In fact, she has never worked let alone worked in an office. However, Violet, one of her supervisors takes her under her wing and helps her out even if their boss, Hart, threatens to fire her. Violet and Hart's secretary, Doralee also discover their reasons to dislike Hart and the three women unite to stand up against their boss.
A few plot twists later, Hart is hanging above the bed in his own bedroom in a harness while Violet, Judy and Doralee ponder what to do with him and how to keep the office from noticing his absence.

So the show is very much about women getting their revenge, girl power, whatever you want to call it. Rather reminds me of my psychology teacher at college. She was very feminist. I think she would have loved this show. Anyway, the show made me laugh because many of the plot twists were unexpected or simply random. To an extent I can understand why the show didn't do well on Broadway (April '09-September '09) though and I don't think it would do brilliantly in the West End either if it ever decided to come into town: it isn't that great a story line and not all people laugh at pure randomness like I do. Even I didn't come out of the theatre thinking 'Wow! That was so much fun! I want to go again!' I suppose 9 to 5 could be compared to something like Mamma Mia! seeing as it is a feel-good, cheesy jukebox musical too but I felt that 9 to 5 was aimed mainly at adults rather than being a show for the whole family like Mamma Mia! very much is.

Original Broadway Cast. From left: Stephanie J Block, Allison Janney and Megan Hilty. (Source)

If I was to give one mention for the best performance, that would undoubtedly go to Bonnie Langford. For the information of my non-British readers, she is a famous stage actress over here. I had never seen her perform live before this despite the fact that she works at Richmond Theatre quite a lot. I did not expect her to be so petite - she was tiny! - nor did I expect her to be such a good dancer and in such a good shape for her age. Langford also won over my friend Christie who came to see the show with me and who was slightly doubtful to begin with.

9 to 5 would work as a straight play also as it is based on a film of the same name from 1980. It does not have that many musical numbers in it which made it come across a little bit like play with song and dance anyway. The plot is complicated (and weird) enough to be interesting on its own (where something like Mamma Mia! most definitely needs the umph provided by the musical theatre aspect). Having said this, I do love the perkiness of the soundtrack.

Lots of people hold the opinion that this one, Get Out and Stay Out, is the best song in the show. Just a little bit too long perhaps. Sung by Stephanie J Block here. Can I just say: she is pure brilliance. The way she builds this song with her voice and emotion is fantastic as is her breath control.

Personally I like the sound of the harmonies in this one, Shine Like the Sun, performed by Megan Hilty, Stephanie J Block and Allison Janney:

There are lots of 9 to 5 clips available to watch on YouTube if you want to find out more :)

'Sister Act' - UK Touring Cast

I am sure many of you have seen the film of the same name starring Whoopi Goldberg on which the stage show is based on. I watch films quite rarely but I am happy I saw that one because it did make me laugh.

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Sister Act at New Wimbledon Theatre
Performance: Wednesday 13th June 2012 at 19:30
Seat:
Cast included: Cynthia Erivo (Deloris Van Cartier), Denise Black (Mother Superior), Michael Starke (Monsignor O'Hara), Julie Atherton (Mary Robert), Jacqueline Clarke (Mary Lazarus), Laurie Scarth (Mary Patrick), Edward Baruva (Eddie Souther), Cavin Cornwall (Curtis Jackson), Gavin Alex (Pablo), Tyrone Huntley (TJ), Daniel Stockton (Joey)


Brief plot summary: Deloris Van Cartier sees her gangster boyfriend kill a man and the police deem it necessary to hide her until his trial. She is placed in a convent and has to get accustomed to a new life as a nun under the name Sister Mary Clarence while her boyfriend's men do their best to hunt her down.

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Apparently this touring production is slightly different to the West End production of 2009 (I did not personally see it though): A song has been taken out, another one added and so on. However little I enjoy comparing stage musicals to films, I must say in favour of the stage version in this case that I found it even funnier than the original film. The film is not actually a musical even though, as proved by this show, it lends itself well to one thanks to the focus on the convent choir.


One thing is certain: the audience loved the show and rewarded it with a standing ovation at the end. I got the feeling that many of the audience members present that night had seen the musical before: there was that anticipation in the air, and there was a fair amount of that special kind of cheering at the jokes (the kind where you can tell people haven't been taken by surprise). I adored the show: it was a feel-good musical with a notably clever plot. Many of the songs were catchy and the dance routines entertaining. I don't know why but there is just something hilarious about a bunch of people dressed as nuns doing a stereotypical musical theatre group number.
I really loved Mary Robert's solo song, The Life I Never Led. It is very me in style so I thought I might find the sheet music and learn it. I enjoyed all the nun group numbers, especially It's Good To Be A Nun, Raise Your Voice and Bless Our Show. 


Bless Our Show from the Original London Cast recording:

I absolutely agree with the multitude of people who have said Cynthia Erivo does a fantastic job of Deloris. It did not even take her half a scene to convince me I was in safe hands when it came to the portrayal of the character.

Laurie Scarth was hilarious as Sister Mary Patrick and Tyrone Huntley stood out in a positive way with his brilliant portrayal of TJ - it was the perfect part for him!
On this visit I had decided not to look at the programme in detail beforehand like I usually do in order to make a note of any familiar names. I figured I would just concentrate on seeing how each of the actors perform before finding out whether I had heard of any of them before. When Sister Mary Robert started singing, I could tell straight away the actor had to be someone famous and if she was not, she certainly ought to be. "Julie Atherton" - well, there you are. I was very happy I now had had the opportunity to hear her perform live having heard numerous recordings of her in the past. 



Julie Atherton singing The Life I Never Led:

I would definitely go and see this again! 

'South Pacific' - UK Touring Cast

This was the first time I saw a professional touring production. What I have heard is that these touring casts tend to be an amazingly talented bunch of people and the only reason they are not in the West End is because they are not famous enough outside musical theatre circles. There is so much competition between shows in the West End as each one tries to attract the audiences that famous people are seen as a fairly essential component in the success of a show. People often go and see touring productions regardless of who is in them because there is not as much choice at any one time. 

Poster for the 2008 Broadway revival

South Pacific at New Wimbledon Theatre
Performance: Friday 23rd March at 19:30
Seat: Central right Dress Circle (my ticket was Upper Circle but there were so many empty seats lower down that they had moved everyone down a level)
Cast included: Samantha Womack (Nellie Forbush), Matthew Cammelle (Emile de Becque), Alex Ferns (Luther Billis), Daniel Koek (Lieutenant Cable), Loretta Ables Sayre (Bloody Mary), Elizabeth Chong (Liat), Cameron Jack (Stewpot), Luke Kempner (Professor), Dominic Taylor (Commander Harbison), Nigel Williams (Captain Bracknett)


Despite South Pacific being such a famous, classic piece by Rodgers & Hammerstein, I must admit, I did not know much about the show prior to seeing it on this occasion. My research showed that both the original Broadway production and the Broadway revival had both won a large number of Tonys. 
The plot very briefly: Two love stories in (surprise, surprise!) the South Pacific during World War II. One between an American nurse and a French gentleman living on the island and the other between an American Lieutenant and an Asian woman. Racism is one of the main issues the musical deals with. 


The feedback for this particular production (based on the 2008 Broadway revival) has been very positive. It started off with a limited West End run before embarking on tour and it is scheduled to return to the Barbican in the West End for a few more weeks to finish off. 
The show most definitely lived up to my expectations. Rodgers & Hammerstein's music is such easy listening and the scenery and the colours were all so fresh and light. I was particularly fond of the set. 


Nellie immediately rose onto the list of characters I would love to play myself. Samantha made a wonderful job of her. She has a gorgeous, shrill, very musical theatre style voice perfectly suited to Nellie. Out of her numbers I enjoyed I'm Gonna Wash That Man Right Outta My Hair the most - it was the song which I ended up humming upon leaving the theatre. 
Samantha singing A Wonderful Guy (song starts at 1:30):

Don't even get me started on Matthew Cammelle. Well, he has played the title role in The Phantom of the Opera. Surely that automatically equals to 'amazing voice'. It is not often one comes across a voice like his; Some Enchanted Evening was pure bliss to listen to. Other special mentions go to Loretta for a hilarious portrayal of Bloody Mary and the remarkably 'together' ensemble (not only vocally but also in the dance numbers which I enjoyed immensely). 


Conclusion: I most definitely recommend for everyone to see this! I will most likely go again when it returns to London and drag my mum along. 
For more information on the show and tour dates, visit http://southpacificonstage.com/home
The promotional trailer for the UK Tour (I preferred Matthew Cammelle's voice in the part of Emile to the guy's in this):