Queen of country music Dolly Parton’s stage version of the 1980 original girl power film 9 to 5, plays to sold out audiences in the King’s Theatre this week as part of its UK tour following a smash hit run in London’s West End.
Set in the 1980s complete with power dressing and big bouffant hair, three under paid, under valued and underestimated female employees grow resentful of their horrible, sexist boss.
Blonde bombshell Doralee (Georgina Castle), naive broken hearted Judy (Amber Davies) and the office veteran and widow Violet (Louise Redknapp) decide to take their revenge by hatching a plot to kidnap their vile boss and take control of the office themselves.
However can these women really win in a male dominated world? Cue a hilarious, rollercoaster journey to turn the tables as they shatter those glass ceilings and prove to themselves as well as society that women are just as worthy as men in the corporate world.
The show opens with a well-received cameo from Dolly Parton herself in a video projection as she narrates the action on stage and sings along with the title track of 9 to5 much to the delight of the audience.
The atmosphere is palpable from the sold out theatre as soon as the instantly recognisable opening beats begin. The cast explode on to the stage and keep the audience enthralled with high energy enthusiasm throughout the two and a half hour show.
The hi-tech and colourful set design with stunning screen projections, clever lighting and impressive staging ensure the audience are well and truly transported back to the famous 80s decade.
However this is far from a jukebox musical of Dolly hit records. Whilst penning the musical score, Dolly has chosen to write brand new tracks which allows for character development, each with a unique story to tell. It is no surprise that the score has received Oscar, Grammy and Tony award nominations with a mix of up-beat, empowering numbers and emotional ballads which resonate well with the audience.
The show may be set in the 1980s but with the recent #metoo movement and continued controversy over equal pay, it seems the story of female empowerment still has a voice nearly four decades on. In fact during the show Violet makes a remark about equal pay not being a problem in ten years time which prompted a knowing chuckle from the audience.
The three female leads are equally deserving of their leading lady status with powerhouse vocals which drive the success of the show. They have incredible stage chemistry as they empower each other to achieve their goals, allowing the audience to fall in love with their stories and champion their journey to success.
Castle is charming as the loveable country gal with big boobs, big hair and an even bigger heart. In fact her performance is so uncanny you could almost believe it was Dolly herself on stage.
Her vocals on Backwoods Barbie were beautiful and flawless. Davies shakes off her 2017 Love Island winner persona and emerges as a stunning West End leading lady with powerful, commanding vocals and great comic timing, perfectly cast in her role as Judy.
Her vocal performance of Get Out Stay Out was without doubt one of the highlights of the show. Redknapp, most famous for her pop princess days and Strictly Come Dancing star, shines as the older and wiser Violet. While her American accent was a tad ropey at times, she dazzled on stage as the powerful business woman masking her lonely heart. Her performance of One of the Boys was simply wonderful to watch.
Sean Needham is fabulously wicked as the groping, pig-headed boss who uses every opportunity on stage to really ham up his performance as the pantomime villain, goading the audience as the bad guy you love to hate.
His hilarious Tango style duet with his pathetic lovestruck secretary Roz (Lucinda Lawrence) had the audience roaring with laughter.
9 to 5 will have you laughing and championing the characters from start to finish. It’s as cheesy, enjoyable and utterly delightful as Ms Dolly Parton herself. Limited tickets available until Saturday 12th October