9 to 5 The Musical

The Cast specialise in bringing new musicals to stage with previous productions including Bad Girls, Acorn Antiques and Eurobeat and this year is no exception with 9 to 5 The Musical.

The musical - based on the 1980 movie of the same name - with music and lyrics by Dolly Parton, premiered in Los Angeles in September 2008, and opened on Broadway in April 2009. It received 15 Drama Desk Award nominations, the most received by a production in a single year, as well as four Tony Awards nominations and had a UK premiere in 2012.

The key roles in this show are the three female leads, Violet, Judy and Doralee and with Carolyn Smith, Beth Yearsley and Rachelle Bragg in superb form the show crackled along throughout.  Carolyn, who always brings a massive vocal presence, showed how her acting range has developed to match her vocal prowess.  Beth managed to bring an impressive character arc to Judy from her initial vulnerability and lack of self-confidence to the powerful women she becomes thanks to the support of her co-workers especially Doralee.  Rachelle had one of the harder acting challenges but succeeded in making her Doralee free of any Dolly Parton clichés bringing the sympathetic character to life and mastering the Texas drawl to perfection to my ear.
Chris Collington brought exactly the right level of sleaze to the misogynistic Franklin Hart Jr. and, judging by the reaction of the audience, he managed to get right under the skin of the character making his ultimate humiliation a highlight - and delight - of the evening. 

The remaining principals provided great supporting roles with Rob Holsman as Joe the timid accountant, managing to show his steel as well as the inferiority complex. Cheryl Camm as Roz the personnel manager managed to deliver a performance dripping in frustration without falling into pantomime territory.  The remainder of the Cast also shone in various roles including Claire Farrand-Preston as Margaret the office drunk ‘saved’ by the change in management, to name but one and, of course, Jason Parker who always makes any part his own, with or without a Selotape dispenser.

Lighting and Back Projection, including video effects, strongly support the production as did the sound which provided excellent balance from pit to stage. Dave Dallard and his 10-piece band drove the show forward throughout and the choreography was well judged.   Scene changes were slick. All leading to another very enjoyable afternoon with the Cast.  Thanks and congratulations to Rob, Dave, Siobhan and the entire production team.
 

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