Musical review: Dolly Parton’s stage musical adaptation of hit film 9 to 5 opens in Adelaide
Dolly Parton’s stage musical adaptation of her hit film 9 to 5 has opened in Adelaide – read arts editor Patrick McDonald’s review.
Arts
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It’s enough to drive you crazy if you let it, but Dolly Parton takes all the madness, mirth and misogyny of working for a living and turns it into a hand-clappin’, toe-tappin’, feel-good flashback in 9 to 5 the Musical.
Parton’s new tunes and writer Patricia Resnick’s fresh stage spin on her 1980 film script keep the show’s original setting to demonstrate just how little has really changed in gender politics and the fight for workplace equality over the past 40 years – except for those outrageous fashions.
In doing so, they’re able to milk the political incorrectness of those times for knowing laughs – and the occasional groan of recognition – while filling the stage with bold colours, big hair and catchy tunes.
The star turns are almost too numerous to mention, but Erin Clare captures all of Parton’s key mannerisms and powerhouse country twang as the sexualised secretary Doralee. She’s a dynamo of talent to behold.
Marina Prior gets to belt out a big Busby Berkeley style fantasy production number as her character Violet dreams of becoming a CEO, then moments later showcases her more delicate, legendary vocal traits in an intimate romantic duet.
Exercising some formidable comedic chops as well as her soaring vocal range, Casey Donovan is the mouse that roared as timid office newcomer Judy, who gives the show its heart. Donovan is a woman of 1000 funny faces, with almost as many octaves to match.
Comic actor Eddie Perfect is the embodiment of entitlement as the women’s grubby, groping and gobsmackingly sexist boss Franklin Hart Jnr, playing up the sleaze with unapologetic relish.
However, it’s musical theatre veteran Caroline O’Connor who provides the showstopper moment as Hart’s personal assistant Roz – who bears an uncanny resemblance to the Monsters Inc character that shares her name and taste in glasses – when she reveals her unrequited love in a Spanish-style display of unbridled passion.
Traditional stagecraft also meets modern computer-generated technology as ever-evolving video backdrops are used to create neon sidewalks, skyscraper cityscapes and office facades which blend seamlessly with physical props like the revolving doorways and banks of photocopiers.
Look closely, and even the glowing screens which make up the lighting rigs are actually old 1980s IBM-style desktop computers.
Oh, and Dolly herself even turns up like “clockwork” to cap off a night of knowing nods, naughty winks and non-stop fun.
9 to 5 the Musical is at the Adelaide Festival Theatre until November 5.
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