9 to 5 The Musical

9 to 5 the Musical is (not surprisingly) a lot like its creator, Dolly Parton. It is Big, Bold and Brassy, Raunchy without being Sexy, Broad but not Deep, Good-naturedly OTT and In Your Face, Self- Aware without being Self-Absorbed, and with a finger on the pulse of how to make money. These are all Dolly Parton. But there’s more.

9 to 5 is also High-Energy, Ball-Busting Entertainment – just like Dolly!

The movie (arguably the first mainstream feminist blockbuster from Hollywood) from which the musical is adapted, relied heavily on the brilliance of the casting. The same is true of the show. And what a cast it is!

The story of three female office workers who kidnap their misogynistic boss and prove they can do a better job of running the company, provides great roles for some fabulous talent, who somehow lift the show to greater heights than Patricia Resnick’s book deserves. They even manage to rise beyond the endless dick jokes and female faces in male crotches to give the subject matter some of the depth it warrants, and convince us they are real women rather than cartoon cardboard cut-outs.

Marina Prior (as Violet), long our princess of Musical Theatre, has become a fully fledged Empress, full of warmth, chutzpah, and brilliant comic timing. She shows her class throughout and her chops in “One of the Boys”, a number which reminds us that Dolly is actually a fine songwriter without the customary down-home twang. Prior makes a meal of the song and looks a million dollars doing it.

Caroline O’Connor, as the hapless Roz, in love with her sexist pig boss, will always be a major star on any stage – but she steps graciously into the role of Dowager Empress and is content to own the stage with just one killer song - the beautifully realised and wickedly funny “Heart to Hart”.

Erin Clare (Doralee) is vivacious and looks like Dolly might wish SHE had looked 40 years ago. With a great voice, she nails the country and western feel of her numbers and her accent is so good that I could scarcely understand a word of her dialogue.

Eddie Perfect is such a great talent that he even manages to persuade us he is a charmless leering villain (minus swirling cloak and twirling moustache). His comedy timing is impeccable throughout, and it’s impossible to hide his natural charisma. He’s in fine voice too, and kills his solo “Always a Woman”. I’m always eager to see what he will do next …preferably something of his own creation.

But the revelation is Casey Donovan (Judy). Oh, what a gift to Musical Theatre she is proving to be. She is funny, endearing, warm and poignant, and the character of Judy undergoes the greatest journey, from mousey, unconfident, betrayed wife to a woman who has discovered who she is and loves herself. She portrays all that and more vocally when she gets to her 11 o’clock number, “Get Out and Stay Out”.  Her range is mind-boggling and her tone goes from a sweet head voice full of Judy’s uncertainty, to a Diva’s full on belt as she finds her power. She moves us and inspires us. She is electrifying and deserved the standing ovation at the end of the number.

Mostly forgotten in reviews, I have to re-iterate we have the greatest ensembles in the musical theatre world. Such great harmony singing, brilliant dancing and great acting in a variety of minor roles, they are all triple threats and great talents in their own right. I must single out Ethan Jones (stupendously impressive in an underwritten role), who is surely destined for leading man roles, and Madeleine Mackenzie as the lush Margaret, who created more laughs than the script afforded her.

Lisa Stevens’ choreography is impressive and wonderfully executed and Tom Rogers marvellous design gives us a set which seems to have it’s own growth journey. It’s spectacular.

And then there is Dolly on the AV…introducing us to the characters and moving the story along as well as singing the famous title song. Some of the audience clearly loved her participation – but to me it felt a little like she was covering her bases in case the cast wasn’t up to scratch. She needn’t have worried. But then with Dolly, you always get more than you were expecting.

Coral Drouyn

Photographer: David Hooley

The Melbourne season of 9 to 5 commences on July10th at Arts Centre Melbourne.