9-5 The Musical

9 to 5 the Musical is based on the 1980 film of the same name, starring country diva Dolly Parton.  Director Greg Snape and Gainsborough Musical Theatre Society take us back to a time where the ‘glass ceiling’ was an impenetrable forcefield preventing women from progressing up the career ladder, pretty secretaries were lusted after by their sexist bosses and power suits and shoulder pads were all the rage. 

Dolly Parton introduces the show herself and the trio of women who tell the story.   Violet (Kim Kostryca), a single mum and widow, who has been promised the chance to become a management executive at Consolidated Industries.  Doralee (Hannah Leaning), the sassy and sexy but slightly naïve Personal Secretary of Frankin Hart Jr. (Drew Jackson) the Company President, and Judy (Antonia Butters), the frumpy, insecure recently divorced new employee. 

9 to 5 is the daily drudge of working in an office in the late 1970s and we see the office workers in their dressing gowns preparing to start another day, including Doralee in a marabou trimmed negligee giving a hint at her glamourous personality, and Violet with her son, Josh (Tilly Lovely.)  

Following a brisk, scene change, we were transported to a traditional 1970s office with filing cabinets, desks and typewriters (no computers in this decade!) where Judy has come for her first day of work.  I loved her frumpy purple outfit and big hat and her obvious inexperience following her recent divorce which has left her having to work to support herself.  We are introduced to other personalities in the office.  Margaret (Alice Broom) the drunk who slurs her words and has a catch phrase ‘atta girl’ and Roz Keith (Amy Petit) the Office Manager, a fearsome harridan in a power suit and glasses who adores Mr Hart.  

For some reason, the office workers do not like Doralee, judging her for her blonde hair and pneumatic cleavage, and she is at a loss to understand why.  She sings in ‘Backwoods Barbie’ that she is always being judged on how she looks.  In a hilarious, but toe-curling scene, we see the naïve, oblivious Doralee climbing step ladders and picking up things from the floor, all for the sexual gratification of her sleazy, sexist boss Mr Hart.  I liked the red light use to signify the fantasy aspect as Mr Hart sings creepily of his obsession with his buxom secretary while leering unashamedly at her.  

Kindly Violet takes inexperienced Judy under her wing, while also nurturing a blossoming relationship with Joe a younger office worker.  Violet feels she cannot commit as she is still grieving for her husband and thinks Joe is too young for her.  Things reach boiling point when Violet is bypassed for her promised promotion and Doralee discovers precisely the reason she is disliked.  Hart has been telling everyone she is sleeping with him!   

Now, with a common reason to hate Hart, the ladies fantasise about how they would dispatch their boss. While high on ‘marajuwana’ each character had a delightful murderous fantasy scene matching their personalities.  Movie obsessed Judy assumes the role of film noir femme fatale in slinky black gown, Violet sick of being ‘his girl’ and making him coffee with ‘sweet n low’ fantasises Disney princess style, complete with woodland animals, about serving him a very ‘special’ potion and Doralee the cowgirl treats him in the same sexist way he has treated her trussing him up with a lasso. 

Back in the office, in a moment of absent mindedness mirroring her fantasy scene, Violet accidentally puts rat poison in Hart’s coffee and sends Doralee to retrieve the mug from his office. Hart has already had a heads up from his faithful Roz however, and blackmails Doralee to sleep with him prompting Doralee to tie him up just like in her fantasy.   Judy then enters waving a gun erratically life imitating art. 

Hart is bundled into a shopping trolley, taken to his house and tied to his bed while the ladies concoct a cover story to explain his absence.  Now, the ladies are in charge of the office, so what improvements can they instigate to make the 9-5 office life more bearable, and can they find the damning evidence that will prove once and for all that Hart is an embezzler as well as an egotistical sexist pig? 

Some fabulous performances, especially Alice Broom as the office lush Margaret.  I loved her disintegration as she swigged from her hip flask her clothes becoming steadily more dishevelled.  Her positivity on taking on an office sponsored sobriety re-hab course was very well done coming back a new woman who Hart didn’t even recognise. Joe, played by Kaius Calver-Hart, Violet’s sweet would be lover was another strong performance.  He had a lovely voice showcased in his romantic duet with Violet, finally winning her heart.  

Special mention to Amy Petit who created a wonderfully hilarious character in Roz Keith, the snooping love-struck office manager, who relished snitching on the other staff.  Amy was fabulous stomping around the stage scowling and sneering at the other employees.  Her song ‘Heart to Hart’ where she sang of her secret yearning for her boss was brilliant and very funny revealing the passionate woman lurking beneath the power suit. 

I also liked Sam Mitchell in his cameo role as Tinsworthy, dressed liked Colonel Sanders, he quickly got the full measure of the odious Hart rewarding Violet with her dream.  Sam, was great swaggering around the stage in his booming mock American accent. 

Drew Jackson made the perfect sleazy sexist Franklin Hart Jnr getting his well-earned come-uppance from the ladies.  I loved his scenes with Doralee using every trick in the book to get her to succumb to him.  He also showed his manipulative side by playing up to Roz to get her to work with him against the ladies calling her ‘his girl’ knowing it was her secret fantasy.  His final appearance clad in straw captured by a primitive band of warriors was hilarious and very fitting for a man beyond redemption. 

The ladies themselves were wonderful each a powerful force to be reckoned with.  Kim as Violet was kindly yet able to call the shots when needed with a vulnerability especially in her relationship with Joe.  Kim had a lovely voice, and I enjoyed her two fantasy scenes.  Antonia as Judy played her part beautifully developing in confidence and her showstopper Get Out and Stay Out showed just how far she had come as she stood up to her conniving ex-husband with a belting vocal display of a woman who was taking back her life.  Finally, Hannah Leaning as Doralee, she kept her pitch perfect southern drawl throughout and packed a punch with her feisty delivery of her powerhouse vocals. I loved her interactions with Hart finally exploding in rage when she realised just what he had been up to. 

Devon Riley led the team in some sparkling choreography pitched to the individual ability of the performers and style of music, for example a toe tapping boot scooping line dance routine and a full-on Broadway number.  I liked the way everyone was included and joined in. 

Costumes were perfectly authentically vintage with long pleated skirts and pussy cat bow blouses. I loved Doralee’s satin fuchsia pink dress and rhinestone cowgirl outfit for her fantasy scene and Violet’s Snow White dress.  The set featured sliding/rotating cabinets and cloths that were used to create different scenes from Hart’s office to the toilet block where Roz eavesdropped on the women.  I liked the constant image of the clock representing the daily drudge of office work and of course the projections used for Dolly’s interjections.  Lighting was used effectively to indicate a fantasy scene, and the stage was always well lit.  Microphones were used throughout so none of the dialogue was missed.

The live band, under the leadership of Musical Director Simon Percy, performed well tackling lots of varying musical styles from a Disney pastiche to rodeo country and a Broadway fosse style dance number. 

Well done Greg for taking us back to the 70s for a taste of pre-women’s lib America in a male dominated world while keeping the humour fully to the forefront.   Thank you once again for the chance to meet some of the cast after the show and chat to the lovely Julie Leaning and I look forward to your next production. 

 

© NODA CIO. All rights reserved.