EMT 9 to 5 The Musical Church Hill Theatre Edinburgh 5th April 2023 Review
Edinburgh Musical Theatre’s 9 to 5 The Musical at the Church Hill Theatre Edinburgh (4 to 8 April) is a chance for everyone to step back into the 1980s and enjoy some classic songs along the way.
9 to 5 The Musical is based on the hit 1980 film of the same name with music and lyrics by Dolly Parton, the stage musical adapted from it premiered in 2008, and the title song “9 to 5” has over time become a classic in its own right, an anthem to everyone who has to work office hours (or non-office hours) just to make a living. Part of the inherent problem with any production of this musical and its songs is, of course, that these and one of the lead characters, country girl Doralee Rhodes are forever so closely linked to Dolly Parton in many people’s minds. Having said that, Monica Fowler was obviously having a lot of fun on stage tonight with her character and her songs, and although there was obviously a lot of “Dolly” in this role, there was also an individual performance here and not a tribute act.
Taking the other two female lead roles in this story, Denise Treanor (Violet Newstead) and Sarah-Louise Donnelly (Judy Bernly) created a 1980s office environment and its often toxic work practices and politics so well, and for those of us old enough to remember those days, let us hope that misogynistic and predatory bosses like Franklin Hart Jnr (Peter Tomassi) no longer exist in a more enlightened workplace (although sadly I am sure too many of them still do). Filling a multitude of roles in the company and mostly disliked by the rest of the women, was Roz Keith (Rosie Sugrue). Together all three of our downtrodden office girls worked so well together both musically and as a believable office trio, but earning some of the loudest applause for their musical numbers, for their sheer over the top performances at times were Peter Tomassi and Rosie Sugrue.
I am never sure if 9 to 5 is an outdated vehicle that should be retired as some of the dialogue and office scenes between Frank Hart Jnr and his fellow male workers simply have no place in today’s world, but this is perhaps the strength of this show, it brings a spotlight to office politics and work practices that should be consigned to history, and to ignore, or try and whitewash that things were ever like this would be a mistake.
There is of course the other side of this musical that has always been there since the original film and that is that, despite Frank Hart Jnr and the men in this office, this is really a women’s story, a tale of women taking a stand, saying enough is enough, and standing up proudly for their own rights and identities as individuals.
Edinburgh Music Theatre Company, or EMT, was formed in 1982 and although it is an amateur musical theatre company, there is nothing amateur about any of its cast or productions and it works closely with many stage professionals to bring shows like this to their audiences. Any amateur company is always going to face budget issues, but tonight this was not showing in costume or stage sets, which although simple worked very well. Also here was the added bonus of the music being performed live.
Sadly, I was on a tight time schedule tonight and only had time to stay for the first act, but I am sure that EMT kept the quality of this show high right until the end and what I saw was as good as my last review of 9 to 5 as a professional stage show which just proves that, in theatre, large scale productions and large scale budgets do not by default mean better theatre.
Review by Tom King © 2023
www.artsreviewsedinburgh.com
9 to 5 The Musical is based on the hit 1980 film of the same name with music and lyrics by Dolly Parton, the stage musical adapted from it premiered in 2008, and the title song “9 to 5” has over time become a classic in its own right, an anthem to everyone who has to work office hours (or non-office hours) just to make a living. Part of the inherent problem with any production of this musical and its songs is, of course, that these and one of the lead characters, country girl Doralee Rhodes are forever so closely linked to Dolly Parton in many people’s minds. Having said that, Monica Fowler was obviously having a lot of fun on stage tonight with her character and her songs, and although there was obviously a lot of “Dolly” in this role, there was also an individual performance here and not a tribute act.
Taking the other two female lead roles in this story, Denise Treanor (Violet Newstead) and Sarah-Louise Donnelly (Judy Bernly) created a 1980s office environment and its often toxic work practices and politics so well, and for those of us old enough to remember those days, let us hope that misogynistic and predatory bosses like Franklin Hart Jnr (Peter Tomassi) no longer exist in a more enlightened workplace (although sadly I am sure too many of them still do). Filling a multitude of roles in the company and mostly disliked by the rest of the women, was Roz Keith (Rosie Sugrue). Together all three of our downtrodden office girls worked so well together both musically and as a believable office trio, but earning some of the loudest applause for their musical numbers, for their sheer over the top performances at times were Peter Tomassi and Rosie Sugrue.
I am never sure if 9 to 5 is an outdated vehicle that should be retired as some of the dialogue and office scenes between Frank Hart Jnr and his fellow male workers simply have no place in today’s world, but this is perhaps the strength of this show, it brings a spotlight to office politics and work practices that should be consigned to history, and to ignore, or try and whitewash that things were ever like this would be a mistake.
There is of course the other side of this musical that has always been there since the original film and that is that, despite Frank Hart Jnr and the men in this office, this is really a women’s story, a tale of women taking a stand, saying enough is enough, and standing up proudly for their own rights and identities as individuals.
Edinburgh Music Theatre Company, or EMT, was formed in 1982 and although it is an amateur musical theatre company, there is nothing amateur about any of its cast or productions and it works closely with many stage professionals to bring shows like this to their audiences. Any amateur company is always going to face budget issues, but tonight this was not showing in costume or stage sets, which although simple worked very well. Also here was the added bonus of the music being performed live.
Sadly, I was on a tight time schedule tonight and only had time to stay for the first act, but I am sure that EMT kept the quality of this show high right until the end and what I saw was as good as my last review of 9 to 5 as a professional stage show which just proves that, in theatre, large scale productions and large scale budgets do not by default mean better theatre.
Review by Tom King © 2023
www.artsreviewsedinburgh.com