9 to 5 the Musical is based on the 1980 film of the same name, starring Jane Fonda, Lily Tomlin and Dolly Parton. The film was adapted for stage, opening on Broadway in 2009. Parton, who wrote the title song of the original film, wrote the music and lyrics for the musical. The original production on Broadway closed after just 24 previews and 143 regular performances. However the musical didn’t just go away, it embarked on a US tour and last year came over to the UK and is currently touring the country. Set in the 1980s where the work place was a sexist place for women the show tells the story of three women Violet, Doralee and Judy who kidnap their horrible boss and give him a taste of his own medicine. They take over the office and show that just because you’re a women doesn’t mean you’re incapable of doing anything a man can do.
I must say
that the score of this show is brilliant, for Dolly’s first musical she’s
really done a fantastic job and really seems to understand each one of the
characters plus getting the musical theatre style spot on, adding her own style
to it too. She’s written a song for Judy which comes near the end of the show
called Get Out and Stay Out, any person who likes musical theatre would know
this song already but this has to be my favourite musical theatre song of all
time. Patricia Resnick has written a great script, the thing I love about the
show is that it’s a modernised version of the story (obviously still set in the
80s) but it still stays so true to the original essence of the film.
