Musical theatre / 9 to 5: The Musical, Queanbeyan Players. The Q, Queanbeyan until November 9. Reviewed by BILL STEPHENS.
Hard-working Violet, employed in the offices of Consolidated Industries, is frustrated at continually being passed over for promotion for less talented men.
After accidentally poisoning their boss, Franklin Hart, her two workmates, Doralee and Judy, persuade Violet to join them in a plot to kidnap Hart, and take over the running of Consolidated Industries.
Such is the premise of 9 to 5: The Musical, a female empowerment musical based on the 1980 film of the same name and given an exuberant production by Queanbeyan Players.
The main attractions of this musical are the songs by Dolly Parton, well sung by a cast of talented principals and the large ensemble; choreographer Lauren Chapman’s spectacularly staged production numbers; and musical director Jenna Hinton’s excellent band, so good, that many of the first-night audience remained after the finale to enjoy the play-out music.
However, whatever the charms of the originating film, they seem to have evaporated in this strident musical adaptation. Despite the best efforts of director Sarah Hull and her team, it was difficult to become invested in the collection of charmless, cardboard characters that inhabit this musical.
That said, Steven O’Mara was particularly good at being bad as the impossibly misogynistic boss, Franklin Hart, even if his adversary, Violet, as interpreted by Kate Eisenberg, is so aggressive, that it is difficult to imagine how her management style would be any different to Hart’s when she took over at Consolidated Industries.
A tendency to gabble her lines, together with her thick southern accent, compromised the effectiveness of Sienna Curnow’s portrayal of the warm-hearted blonde, Doralee, making it difficult to understand what she was saying.
Of the trio, only Sarah Copley, with a delightful comedic performance as the insecure Judy, managed to capture the convincing tone for her character. Her self-discovery solo, Get Out and Stay Out, was one of the show’s highlights.
Among the supporting characters, Dave Collins as Joe, found warmth in his character, so that his second-act duet with Violet, Let Love Grow, was another highlight.
Shennia Spillane is delightful, as Hart’s nosy secretary, Roz, who harbours a secret passion, while Andrew Taylor is extraordinarily cast-off-able, as Judy’s ex, Dick.
Elsewhere among the large cast, Joshua Galang (Josh), John Whinfield (Dwayne), Kirsten Smith (Kathy), and Kara Sellars (Maria) revel in their opportunities as various office dwellers at Consolidated Industries.
Thompson Quan Wing is responsible for the imaginative set design, Samantha Marceddo for the tasteful costuming, Helen McIntyre for the myriad properties, and stage manager Sarah Morris for marshalling the large cast.
Jacob Aquilina and Telia Jansen created the lighting and sound design and special mention to Sophie Hope-White for the delightfully clear and informative printed program design.
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