9 to 5 The Musical

Dolly Parton is not only super talented, but amongst the most business savvy artists around, and she provided the first surprise of the night by beaming in as the narrator, surrounded by the solid gold glitter of the set like a Fairy Godmother.

This was the woman, who as a spring chicken, told Elvis Presley that no he could not have part of the copyright of a song she wrote just because he was the singer, thank you very much.

With the same chutzpah, now older and a lot richer, she sprinkled some entertainment fairy dust and made sure all her fans were delighted with the show from the outset, by introducing the characters.

This act of breaking of the fourth wall steered the musical into the genre of an adult pantomime as opposed to a grittier look at injustices in the workplace.

There were the goodies - our three downtrodden female employees Violet Newstead (Marina Prior), Judy Bernley (Casey Donovan) and Doralee Rhodes (Erin Clare).

They were forced to endure the baddie boss Franklin Hart Jnr, played cheekily and credibly by Eddie Perfect, who tells sexist jokes and chases skirts around the office.

Providing comic relief was the nosey informant secretary Roz Keith, portrayed with wit and panache by Caroline O’Connor.

The narrative was left hanging at the end of the first act (both literally and metaphorically) when the trio give their boss the treatment many might say he deserved.

The second act was more satisfying musically and dramatically. 

Apart from the title song, all the music was composed for the show. The stirring ensemble anthem “Change it” was among a number of highlights.

Marina Prior shone in the song “One of the Boys”, the song’s lyrics “my time to shine” suited her talent and status a musical theatre diva. 

The quiet dignity of the blooming relationship between Prior’s Violet and a much younger male colleague Joe (Ethan Jones) was also very satisfying.

The showstopper, however was the solo from Casey Donovan, “Get Out and Stay Out”. which earnt a standing ovation from the opening night crowd.

“You used me, abused me, you cheated and you lied
So get out and stay out, I'm taking back my life.” 

Our narrator Dolly was back to organise a sing-along at the end of the musical – no guessing what popular tune she picked – and to urge the audience to tell their friends to buy a ticket.

Who am I to disagree?

David Spicer

Photographer: David Hooley