By DANIEL SHOCK
A Seat on the Aisle
The Belfry Theatre of Noblesville kicks off its 60th season with a production of 9 to 5: The Musical. The show is based on the hit 1980 movie of the same name, which stars Dolly Parton, Lily Tomlin, and Jane Fonda as three employees who have become fed up with the leering sexism of their boss, portrayed by Dabney Coleman in the film.
Turning the movie into a musical required more songs, and Dolly Parton – who wrote the original “9 to 5” song – came through with 13 new numbers for the show. These new songs blend well into the familiar storyline, helping bring the bold personalities and struggles of the lead characters to life with Dolly’s signature style of humor and charm. I confess, I’ve never actually watched the movie, but its impact on popular culture is hard to escape.
This production, co-directed by Carla Crandall and Barcia Alejos, gets off to a shaky start with the opening number, “9 to 5,” which caused some concern for how the show might go. The ensemble seemed under-rehearsed and struggled to keep their dance movements in sync. However, after the opening, as we are introduced to the various characters, the cast seemed to find their footing.
Graphic provided
The three leads were well cast in their roles. Amanda Falcone, as Violet, portrayed a woman who is excellent at her job, impatient, and eager to ascend the corporate ladder while also growing weary of her boss Franklin Hart Jr.’s constant belittling and dismissive attitude toward her. Claire Donnelly steps into Dolly’s role, Doralee, with a strong voice and a great sense of humor, perfectly capturing the character’s charm. Kristin Hilger rounds out the trio as Judy, the new employee who, inexperienced and suddenly left on her own after her husband leaves her, starts off lacking in confidence. Hilger plays the part well, showing Judy’s transformation into a more self-assured woman as the show progresses. All three leads sing well and share great chemistry on stage.
Darrin Gowan, as the villain of the show – boss Franklin Hart Jr. – delivers a solid performance and is, at times, shocking in his portrayal of the sexist man who sees his female employees as nothing more than pets existing for his pleasure. I say shocking because the leering and comments written for the character are so out of bounds that they remind me how far we’ve come – and still how relevant this story still is.
The supporting cast features some standout moments as well. Two performances that surprised me were from Stephani Gable, who portrayed Roz, and Jared Gaddis, who played Joe, everyone’s favorite accountant. When each of them began their respective solos, I was genuinely taken aback – in the best way. Both are strong singers, and their performances significantly contributed to my enjoyment of the show. Also worth mentioning is Ben Ohning, who gave a natural and believable performance in the role of Violet’s son, Josh.
The set was a very nice design by Jay Ganz and Jose Alejos, bringing to mind the modern art of Edward Fielding. The costumes by Gail Sanders, Justice Nielsen, and Carla Crandall were very fitting for the era. Unfortunately, the sound was a bit hit or miss, with microphones sometimes going in and out, but it was easily overlooked.
I enjoyed the show. With a few more dance rehearsals and some tech improvements to the microphones, the show could really blossom into a fine community theatre production.
The Belfry’s 9 to 5: The Musical will be performed at Noblesville First United Methodist Church, 2051 Monument St., Noblesville. The remaining performances are:
- Thursday, Sept. 26, 8 p.m.
- Friday, Sept. 27, 8 p.m.
- Saturday, Sept. 28, 2 p.m.
- Sunday, Sept. 29, 2 p.m.
Tickets can be purchased at TheBelfryTheatre.com.
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