The MSU Opera Theatre production of "Nine" did its job of entertaining viewers this past weekend, but lack of attention to some details made sure the show would not get a rating of nine out of 10.

"Nine" is based on "8 1/2," the autobiographical film of Italian filmmaker Federico Fellini - named Guido Contini in the musical - who is having a midlife crisis because his wife wants to leave him, and he cannot think of a plot for his latest movie. Meanwhile, all the women in the main character's life are vying for the filmmaker's attention.

Directed by Melanie Helton, and featuring about two dozen actors - all but two being female - "Nine" had superb singing, despite a somewhat flawed musical score. Individually, the actors shined, however, the score did not allow much for full-cast numbers with high energy and booming vocals.

Complicating matters was the MSU Philharmonic Orchestra, which was placed on stage and resulted in the drowning out of a good amount of the vocals throughout the evening. The orchestra played phenomenally, but it was at the expense of the actors.

Regarding musical logistics, the obligatory bang-bang, send-me-on-my-way song at the end of the first act was not there. As a matter of fact, the act seemed like it should have ended much earlier. Perhaps it could have ended following the humorous track "The Script/Folies Bergéres," spearheaded by Contini's French film producer, Liliane LeFleur.

When a blue feather boa lowered from the top of the Fairchild Theatre during that song, it seemed like a fitting way to put the first act to bed. But the act had insomnia, and unfortunately trudged on .

LeFleur, played by music education senior Kristi Hughes, was funny with her thick French accent, and the rest of the cast also was energetic and humorous - when it needed to be. It was just too bad the score was not written better. Most of the songs were not catchy or memorable, "The Germans At The Spa" being excluded.

During "Germans," several German tourists took the stage, dressed in bright, flowery shirts and tan shorts - typical of a tourist. It also featured one of the few moments where there was a lot of movement throughout the overall dance-free musical.

Then again, there was not much room to dance in, with the orchestra enveloping half the stage.

Still, some theater-goers were hoping for more.

"I thought there could have been more done with the dancing," music education sophomore Ali Irons said. "Obviously, this is done by the opera department, so their focus was singing, and the singing was spectacular."

But civil engineering junior David Bendert had no qualms with the show.

"I thought the story was the best part - the whole growing up and getting older but staying young and trying to figure out where you are," Bendert said.

In a nutshell, "Nine" came down to just a handful of details, but those missed details ultimately hindered the potentially enjoyable experience.