MARS HILL, N.C. (828newsNOW) — Dolly Parton’s classic 1980 song “9 to 5” captured exactly what it felt like to be caught in the machinery of the American Dream. The song nails the feeling of working hard and getting nothing in return in remarkable brevity: two minutes and 29 seconds.
The show based on the song, “9 to 5: The Musical,” can’t boast the same. Parton’s show is overstuffed and overlong — over two hours — with a first act that takes far too much to get going. But once it does, “9 to 5” is undeniable fun.
The biggest issue with the script is that it takes too long for its three lead characters to unite. “9 to 5” follows three women that forge a friendship and stage a workplace coup. Hijinks ensue. However, the three characters — Parton-pseudonym Doralee, sweet new employee Judy and brusque, all-business Violet — take almost the entire first act to interact together.
Think about the show like a motivated office worker: They may arrive at “9” feeling sleepy and sluggish, but after that first cup of coffee, they’re on fire “to 5.” The show just waits a little too long to pour itself a cup.
A production of “9 to 5” was staged from Thursday, Feb. 27 to Sunday, March 2 at the Owen Theatre, Mars Hill University.
The Mars Hill company’s Thursday night performance suffered from the usual “9 to 5” constraints. Much of the first act felt uncertain and nervous — granted, it was opening night — and wasn’t aided by the inadequate sound for its leads. The songs were shaky and the choreography was jumbled, while the acting was rock solid and charming.
It wasn’t until the three women finally solidify their friendship and perform three genre-fied fantasies of murder — the noir “The Dance O’ Death, Western “Cowgirl’s Revenge” and twisted fairy tale “Potion Notion” — that the play hit its stride. The rest of the show was excellent.
The choreography and staging of the production is the biggest critique one could have with the Mars Hill company’s Thursday night. For a musical, too many songs had their leads or the ensemble standing stock still, or else shuffling in place. There was very little dancing for the bombast of Parton’s music.
Additionally, a pivotal part of the play revolved around a screen in the back of the stage which displayed important information about scenes and even video of Parton herself. Due to the layout of the set, for two-thirds of the audience the screen is halfway obscured.
However, the most important thing for “9 to 5” to nail was the Dolly Parton character, Doralee. She’s the lynchpin of the Parton of it all.
Mars Hill’s Doralee, senior Musical Theatre major Ivy Brooks, was a star. Brooks injected the production with humor, presence and show-stopping singing from the get. Even her southern accent was perfectly pitched. One can only hope she has poured herself “a cup of ambition” — to quote Parton’s lyrics — post-grad: Brooks could go far.
Other performers, particularly the incredible singer Jordan Speece (Violet), physical comedian Fernanda Guerrero (Roz) and standout ensemble member Niki Vastis (Maria), rounded out a night of rock solid theater.
Over the course of the evening, “9 to 5” went from a five to a nine. I don’t want to be a Jolene about it: while it began uneven, Mars Hill brought fully did their part in producing a fun Parton show.
Before a performance of “9 to 5: The Musical” at the Owen Theatre in Mars Hill, N.C.