9 to 5 Review: Dolly Parton’s musical is fun but feels a little dated

It’s about the bad old days of the 1980s which makes 9 to 5 The Musical a bit of retro fun – although turning back the clock doesn’t always work in the 21st Century.

Hey 9 to 5 The Musical … the Eighties called. They want their show back! That’s what I wanted to shout from my seat in the Lyric Theatre at QPAC at the opening night performance of this musical.

It’s fun but fraught because it is very much a beast of its time. The film was fun although it’s a distant memory and the musical is fun too … at times. There are other times however when I squirmed in my seat with discomfort. I am a bit of a prude. I would have made a good Presbyterian Minister I think so groin clutching, bondage and risque sex jokes aren’t my cup of tea.

Casey Donovan sings up a storm as Judy Bernly in 9 To 5 The Musical. Picture: Liam Kidston.

This show is pretty raunchy actually and it had me and lost me and had me and lost me … and so it went for two hours and thirty minutes.

But the sense of fun does carry it through. It’s kind of like a Carry On movie at times with everybody hamming it up something horrible.

The players seems to be having a great time and what a power line-up it is with Marina Prior as Violet Newstead and Eddie Perfect as Franklin Hart Jnr, the horrible boss and Casey Donovan as Judy Bernly with Erin Clare as Doralee Rhodes, the role Dolly Parton played on screen all those years ago. Then there’s the unofficial star of the show, veteran trouper Caroline O’Connor as Roz Keith the office admin assistant and busybody who has the hots for her boss … and how.

O’Connor steals the show at times with her comedic antics which amounts to quite sophisticated clowning.

9 TO 5 The Musical is a party on stage. Picture: Liam Kidston.

Everybody else is great too, as they should be because they are all stars. Casey Donovan is an amazing singer although it felt like she had to restrain herself at times. Marina Prior is a big star and seemed to be having fun, and Eddie Perfect is, well, perfect as the sexist misogynist who gets his come uppance in the end.

Erin Clare is terrific and I hear that Dolly herself is mightily impressed with her. And we do see a bit of Dolly in the show and it’s not just a generic appearance because she mentions Brisbane and even the Valley for God’s sake.

Caroline O’Connor is hilarious in 9 TO 5 The Musical at QPAC. Picture: Liam Kidston.

We love you Dolly!

And of course it is her musical with her music and lyrics and that may be the problem.

The theme song still works but some of the others struggle. The book of the show is by Patricia Resnick who wrote the film and while it is funny some of it seems just a tad too retro.

And the bondage stuff involving Eddie goes on for too long with Eddie Perfect milking his dilemma (being held prisoner at his home by his employees) for all it is worth.

It’s essentially about the empowerment of women and that was the message in the film and it’s still the message today. The musical kind of points that out and though things have changed they haven’t changed enough. I must mention how brilliant the sets are and the dancers and the music.

And I can report that the audience seemed to love it and I did hear someone later say it was like going to a party. Of course as everyone knows I don’t much like parties.

But I’m sure you do.