9 to 5: The Musical - Savoy Theatre

I'm really torn about this, I flew to NY twice to see this when it was on Broadway because I'm a huge Dolly fan but even I have to admit it isn't a great show. The Broadway run was helped by the calibre of people they got to be in it (Allison Janney was a joy), but this cast isn't really inspiring me.

Marketing it based on Dolly's name is basically her approach to selling most things. If you go to Dollywood (which you should!) she is in videos welcoming you to the park and to every ride/shop etc, Dolly excels at making you feel like she's there when she's not!! (I noticed for the tour they added a video at the beginning from Dolly welcoming the audience to the show!). That being said she attended most of the previews in NY and I'd be very surprised if she doesn't attend some here too. I'll be getting tickets for the first night purely based on that!

didn't know Amber Davies could sing? only saw she was in this "Dating show"

Did the MT course at Urdang, graduated two years ago. 

I don't question the abilities of the cast. It's the show I'm complaining about. The West End should never be a place where a "filler" production is given a major theatre for a six month run. Can we imagine such a thing happening on Broadway?

I do agree; a six-month filler is significantly long, especially for such a prime theatre! It would not surprise me if there are producers queueing up/in discussion with ATG at the moment but ATG doesn't want to risk have a theatre empty. It's a hard one, I understand why, but at the same time, I could write a list of shows I think that could do well in the Savoy just now, I think!

We're always hearing about the lack of available theatres and multiple shows circling trying to 'land', so it always surprises me when a filler show is announced for such a long period.

It also irritates me that we ship everything decent over to New York, almost instantly, but get hardly anything back in return, certainly in terms of plays. I can think of so many plays that have been in Broadway that I would love to see in the Savoy but instead we get 9 to 5 with Louise Redknapp and Brian Connolly for 7 months. It's a shame Network with Bryan Cranston didn't transfer to the Savoy instead of the Belasco on Broadway.I know which show I'd rather see.

Yeah I feel it's quite insulting to all involved to write off a show as just 'filler' nobody snapped their fingers and made this happen overnight. 

Also just because a show isn't someone's cup of tea, doesn't make it bad? (I mean according to some people it does). 

Failing all that, it's keeping Dolly in wigs and heels. 

I wonder if Stephanie J Block ever thought that there would be a day when she would be in a comparison with Natalie Casey?

Actually, I wonder if Stephanie J Block even knows that such a thing as a Natalie Casey even exists?

I do wonder if there will be any shot at this years Oliviers for this kind of show, maybe nkt the show itself, but the Broadway production garnered award nominations at the major awards for pretty much the entire main cast at one ceremony or another other than Andy Karl.

The show itself, in the first tour stop in Manchester a few years ago, was entertaining fluff: a good time, but empty calories. With the right performers in the leads, it's a decent night out.

THIS cast, on the other hand... take the role of Violet Newstead. Lily Tomlin. Allison Janney. Louise Redknapp. Can anybody spot the odd (wo)man out?
Or the role of Judy: Jane Fonda, Stephanie J. Block, somebody who won 'Love Island'.

No thanks. Pity, because - as I said - with the right performers it's a fun show.

Sidenote, is it not crazy that if it does play to the end of its limited run (which I imagine it will, considering it is only seven months, I imagine Summer will carry it through), that this run will have ran longer than the Broadway production ran, as well as only a few months less than both the US and UK Tours. Thats crazy considering it is only their first booking period.