9 to 5

Making its first appearance in NODA District 4, this new show with music and lyrics by Dolly Parton was something of a coup for AAOC.    The story is much like another show mentioned earlier in this District’s Reports in that it centres on dissatisfied workers – in this case in the US and working 9 to 5.
The downtrodden ladies are Violet Newstead, Judy Bernley and Doralee Rhodes played by Fiona Hogg, Ciara Brady and Joanna Gallagher, all with their job descriptions cleverly incorporated in the show’s programme as part of the Personnel File of Consolidated Industries by whom they are employed.     The President of the Company is the pompous and lecherous Franklin Hart, Junior played by Greg Philp who has been boasting that he is having an affair with Doralee    The three women fantasize over a joint as to how they might kill Hart.   Next day, Violet unwittingly almost poisons Hart and he threatens to blackmail them by involving the police.   To prevent that, the women tie him up and imprison him in his office and set about making changes to the running of the Company.   They introduce child-care, hour-long lunch breaks and other staff benefits and discover that Hart has been embezzling from the Company.   Hart breaks free and threatens to expose the kidnapping but the Chairman of the Board of Consolidated (Russell Tinsworthy – played by John Scott) arrives to praise the Company on increased productivity.   The Chairman hears the story and sends Hart to Consolidated’s Bolivia office and promotes Violet to the position of CEO of the Company.
There are 14 scenes in Act I and 7 in Act II with musical numbers in most scenes, including the title music 9 to 5.    The Personnel Files of Consolidated show other employees of the Company too numerous to name but the cast of 34 in total made this enjoyable show one to remember.

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