Broadway smackdown: witches vs. bitches.

Two nights. Two Broadway shows. It’s the battle of the triple threats. In the Gershwin Theatre corner the witches of Wicked. In the Marquis, the bitches of 9 to 5. And in this Broadway smack down, the bitches walk away with the crown.
Yes, Wicked is a big-budget, techno spectacular with flashy sets and dazzling lights. The costumes are fantastic, particularly the flying monkeys and Glinda’s hyper-sparkling gowns. The cast is super talented with Nicole Parker as Elpheba and Alli Mauzey as Glinda turning in exceptional performances.

But even with all that Broadway firepower, the show (and I’m about to upset you rabid Wicked fans) fell flat. The plot line tries so hard to tell the story that it feels like work. The lyrics are fine, but they seldom surprised me. And this is a score for the hardcore show tunes fan, with complex melodies that refuse to follow you out of the theater.
Compare all that with the power women of 9 to 5. With just a few tweaks to the original story, the producers have created a Broadway classic that seems at least as relevant today as it did when the movie was first released. Let’s start with the best part of the show: music and lyrics by Dolly Parton. This is music that not only follows you out of the theatre, it practically invites you to the after party. Dolly lives up to her reputation as a first-rate songwriter and poet.

The sets are a clean take on the modern office with just enough retro to remind you of the original. And the scene transitions, while nowhere near as glitzy as those of Wicked, are so clever they left me giddy. The performances are good too. Allison Janney as Violet may not be the best vocalist in the group, but her performance is so strong that you don’t really notice. Megan Hilty as Doralee is the perfect update to Dolly Parton’s original performance. And naïve Judy is played perfectly by Stephanie Block.

But maybe the reason I liked the show so much is because it still delivers powerful messages. The show reminds us that we have a long way to go when it comes to treating women equally, and I like that. Even more interesting is the way this show takes on corporate fat cats. In this era, when corporate big wigs have screwed us all, 9 to 5 makes it clear that it’s time for each and everyone one of us to demand more from those in power. So take note overpaid and underperforming corporate executives. Because the rest of us have had it. And we’re armed with rat poison and garage door openers.