Royal City Musical Theatre’s production of 9 to 5: The Musical is on stage at New Westminster’s Massey Theatre until May 11.
With music and lyrics by Dolly Parton with a book by Patricia Resnick, based on her screenplay from the 1980 film of the same name, 9 to 5: The Musical is a rollicking workplace comedy. Despite being set 45 years ago, the story still resonates in these times. Misogynistic management, downtrodden workers, ‘old boys’ network keeping ‘the girls’ in line, all situations that echo throughout the decades. Viewed from the lens of today, and surrounded by the 80s anachronisms we can laugh at the workplace plight. Judging from the audience reactions, the laughs were especially forthcoming for those who remembered the era all too well.
The three central characters; Violet, Doralee, and Judy all work in the secretarial pool for Consolidated Co under Franklin Hart Jr, a sexist, egotistical, lying, hypocritical bigot. As the story progresses, through a series of unfortunate, opportunistic events they are able to turn the tables and make true progress at Consolidated themselves.
A powerhouse trio of performers; Irene Karas Loeper as Violet, Madeleine Suddaby as Judy, and Maia Beresford as Doralee bring belting, bold performances to the Massey stage. Irene Karas Loeper’s Violet is the stable, single mom, a senior supervisor who tends to the flock of others in the pool. Judy is a newly divorced woman out on her own for the first time in her life with a roller coaster of emotions powered by Madeleine Suddaby. Maia Beresford’s Doralee, a stand-in for Dolly herself, shows there’s brains and a mighty voice behind the beauty of the Backwoods Barbie. What good are heroines without a villain to elevate them, as Franklin Hart Jr., Dustin Freeland gives his best impression of the handsy, cigar-smoking, liquid-lunch bosses of a (thankfully) bygone era.
Accompanying the mighty leads is vast ensemble of local players, and the supporting cast of Jennifer Suratos as Mr Hart’s obsequious personal assistant Roz, Gabriel Macdonald as Violet’s potential suitor, Spenser Swift as Judy’s no-longer required, ex-husband, Alfonso Banzon as Doralee’s husband, and Keri Smith as Margaret – the flask-wielding stand-out from the secretarial pool for all the wrong reasons.
Leading the creative team, Chris Adams, co-directs with Valerie Easton, who also choreographed the show and has stepped down as Royal City Musical Theatre’s Artistic Director after a 15 year legacy of bringing New Westminster great musical theatre. Set Designer Emily Dotson with Stephanie Barclay’s props design recreate the stark office environment of typewriters, Xerox machines, carbon paper and coffee room gossip. Deborah Basterfield’s costumes make good use of double-knit polyester and earth tones for the office, and brings in bold colours to capture the leading ladies’ fantasy sequences. Music Director Angus Kellett directs the 12-person orchestra, filling the auditorium with the sounds of Dolly.
As Dolly states, ‘workin’ nine to five, what a way to make a living’ and what a way to enjoy a brilliant evening of live theatre than enjoying the Consolidated creative genius of Royal City Musical Theatre’s 9 to 5: The Musical!
9 to 5: The Musical runs until May 11, 2025 at Massey Theatre, 735 8th Avenue, New Westminster visit royalcitymusicaltheatre.com for show details and tickets.