Rule of (Feminine) 3's

OK, I pretty much panned "Vanities" at the Pasadena Playhouse and wasn't much kinder to "9 to 5: the Musical" at the Ahmanson.

Both are musicals which premiered here in L.A. en route -- yeesh! squared _ to Broadway. Both are shot through with a current of girl power, we've come a long way, baby, men are skunks sensibility.

"Vanities" was a play (and a cable movie) before it become a musical. "9 to 5" was a movie first. The two tales focus on a trio of women: small town former Texas cheerleaders in the former case; put-upon office workers in the latter.

Both musicals I found rather dated. Where "Vanities" was sappy, "9 to 5" traded on a bit of sass and spice.

So that's two thee women centered, Broadway-bound musicals down _ and I do mean down _ and one more on arrival. Alas, we'll have to wait until the summer of 2009 when "First Wives Club _ the Musical" stages its out of town tryout at the Old Globe Theatre in San Diego.

Here again we have an impressive enough sounding team: composers Brian Holland, Lamont Dozier and Eddie Holland (who created hits for numerous Motown greats), book writer Rupert Holmes ("Curtains," "Edwin Drood") and director Francesca Zambello ("The Little Mermaid" on Broadway).

The movie stared Goldie Hawn, Diane Keaton and Bette Midler as three divorced women who band together to seek revenge on their husbands.

It opens July 15 at the Old Globe, www.theoldglobe.com.