Whether The First Wives Club, the screen-to-stage musical now getting its world premiere at San Diego's Old Globe Theatre, becomes another Producers or another 9 to 5 is hard to tell, but it's definitely a real audience pleaser. Director Francesca Zambello's production certainly flows smoothly, aided immensely by a top-notch cast and design team. Still, the total experience doesn't fulfill its potential, due to a less-than-ideal book and score.

This female empowerment tale of three scorned wives, based on Olivia Goldsmith's novel and the subsequent hit film, focuses on three old friends: Annie (Karen Ziemba), who was a whiz in the ad world until she became an apologetic wife to Aaron (John [...]