REVIEW
✭✭✭✭✭ 5/5
Dolly Parton presents
9 to 5
The Musical
Cliffs Pavilion, Southend on Sea, Essex
11th to 15th January 2022
✭✭✭✭✭ 5/5
Dolly Parton presents
9 to 5
The Musical
Cliffs Pavilion, Southend on Sea, Essex
11th to 15th January 2022
Hold on to your shoulder pads Southend, 9 to 5 The Musical is playing at the Cliffs Pavilion all this week taking us straight back to the eighties; a decade where being a woman in a male dominated environment could often mean a daily dose of dodging male chauvinism; and the resignation that your salary was never going to match your male counterpart's.
The 9 to 5 movie, written by Patricia Resnick, was a huge hit in 1980 when it was released starring Jane Fonda, Lily Tomlin and Dolly Parton who wrote the the famous theme tune which in turn became one of the biggest hits of the decade. The 9 to 5 Musical has also been written by Patricia with Dolly not only providing music and lyrics but also popping up on stage (ok, she's on a screen) to present the show and introduce us to the three working 'gals' whose office lives are about to change when they realise their fantasies of getting even with their sexist, egotistical, lying, hypocritical, bigot boss.
The West End has really come to Southend with this lavish production. The set is huge and there are many impressive scene changes that keep the flow of the show racing ahead with full force, thanks to the hard working ensemble. The clever choreography is wonderfully energetic and upbeat.
Stephanie Chandos takes on the 'Dolly' role of Doralee Rhodes, secretary to odious boss, Hart. She looks and sounds fabulous and truly endears, not least in the Backwoods Barbie number. Vivian Panka is a fantastic Judy, the awkward new girl who eventually finds her feet thanks to her office pals. She really gets to show off some great vocals with Get Out and Stay Out and is certainly one to look out for in the future. Sean Needham as sleazy boss, Franklin Hart Jnr is just hilarious, somehow managing to get the audience on his side. Despite playing someone completely revolting, he still has us cracking up at his perverseness. The scene with Julia J Nagle as Hart's loyal assistant, Roz, who is desperately in love with him, is jaw-droppingly as brilliant as it is hilarious although maybe a bit near the knuckle for some. If you know your 'S&M' from your 'M&Ms' then you'll be perfectly fine.
The real star of the show though is Sarah-Marie Maxwell who plays Violet. Violet is a widow, who knows that she should be first in line for promotion but when she gets turned down for a male co-worker, she and the other girls decide to plot a plan to get revenge; with hilarious results. I loved her One of the Boys number.
There's lots to love in this lavish production with its colourfully lit sets, equally colourful costumes, matched with some impressively speedy costume changes, brilliant humour and delightful soundtrack courtesy of Ms Parton.
This is a production heaped full of fun and laughter, but it still brings up the question of whether women are treated fairly in the workplace, even now. "Hopefully things will be better in 10 years time," one of the characters says.
Don't miss out on this blockbuster of a musical - the Cliffs Pavilion couldn't have asked for a better start to the theatrical year!
Tickets available at www.southendtheatres.org.uk
The 9 to 5 movie, written by Patricia Resnick, was a huge hit in 1980 when it was released starring Jane Fonda, Lily Tomlin and Dolly Parton who wrote the the famous theme tune which in turn became one of the biggest hits of the decade. The 9 to 5 Musical has also been written by Patricia with Dolly not only providing music and lyrics but also popping up on stage (ok, she's on a screen) to present the show and introduce us to the three working 'gals' whose office lives are about to change when they realise their fantasies of getting even with their sexist, egotistical, lying, hypocritical, bigot boss.
The West End has really come to Southend with this lavish production. The set is huge and there are many impressive scene changes that keep the flow of the show racing ahead with full force, thanks to the hard working ensemble. The clever choreography is wonderfully energetic and upbeat.
Stephanie Chandos takes on the 'Dolly' role of Doralee Rhodes, secretary to odious boss, Hart. She looks and sounds fabulous and truly endears, not least in the Backwoods Barbie number. Vivian Panka is a fantastic Judy, the awkward new girl who eventually finds her feet thanks to her office pals. She really gets to show off some great vocals with Get Out and Stay Out and is certainly one to look out for in the future. Sean Needham as sleazy boss, Franklin Hart Jnr is just hilarious, somehow managing to get the audience on his side. Despite playing someone completely revolting, he still has us cracking up at his perverseness. The scene with Julia J Nagle as Hart's loyal assistant, Roz, who is desperately in love with him, is jaw-droppingly as brilliant as it is hilarious although maybe a bit near the knuckle for some. If you know your 'S&M' from your 'M&Ms' then you'll be perfectly fine.
The real star of the show though is Sarah-Marie Maxwell who plays Violet. Violet is a widow, who knows that she should be first in line for promotion but when she gets turned down for a male co-worker, she and the other girls decide to plot a plan to get revenge; with hilarious results. I loved her One of the Boys number.
There's lots to love in this lavish production with its colourfully lit sets, equally colourful costumes, matched with some impressively speedy costume changes, brilliant humour and delightful soundtrack courtesy of Ms Parton.
This is a production heaped full of fun and laughter, but it still brings up the question of whether women are treated fairly in the workplace, even now. "Hopefully things will be better in 10 years time," one of the characters says.
Don't miss out on this blockbuster of a musical - the Cliffs Pavilion couldn't have asked for a better start to the theatrical year!
Tickets available at www.southendtheatres.org.uk
Photo taken from a previous production