Listen up y’all I have a confession to make. I know this may shock some of you. Here goes. I am not really a fan of Dolly Parton. You won’t find me tumblin’ outta bed with her songs in ma head, in ma heart or on ma lips. I am retired now so no more nine to fives for little old me. Any Route 69 up, once upon a working life in the late 1980s I worked for five mighty fine seasons at the American Adventure Theme Park and – gosh a glory – I tell you, I heard enough Dolly Parton songs piped through the retail stores and Silver City twenty times a day to last a lifetime. Probably an equal amount of Glen Campbell with his Rheinstone cowboys and linesman for the county. At the time I even dated a young woman name of Joanne Leen. Yep Jolene. It didn’t last long. Standing by her man wasn’t for her. Sad but true. Love is like a butterfly.
For those of you who are partial to a bit of Parton will probably be aware that Dolly herself made her film debut in the 1980 film 9 – 5. She played Doralee Rhodes and wrote the theme song which was nominated for an Academy Award and a Grammy. This staged musical has music and lyrics by Dolly Parton and a book by Patricia Resnick who also co-wrote the original screenplay. Professionally there have been four major UK tours and a West End showing. There have probably been hundreds of amateur musical theatre groups in Britain doing the musical comedy over the years. Candy floss wigs and office worker dance routines have never had it so good. This time around the well- liked Beeston Musical Theatre Group have taken on the challenge to add their talents to the Dolly mixture. Before I leave my house and head out west to The Duchess Theatre in Long Eaton I pour myself a cup of ambition and hope for an enjoyable evening of office-based fantasy and three women’s revenge on the hellish Mr Hart.
Whilst I find this show, with its gossamer thin plot, isn’t really my thing, the packed theatre audience made up of groups of ladies, seem of a whole different opinion. Each song gets a generous round of applause and plenty of enthusiastic hollering. The three main female characters Doralee Rhodes (Emily Owen), Violet Newstead ( Sara Evans Bolger) and Judy Bernly (Brogan Jones) are warmly treated like old friends throughout. This audience are loving being party to their plans to deal with their bigoted, sexist, egotistical, lying, hypocritical boss Mr Hart (Craig Arme) and the romantic storylines. Roz Keith the office telltale is played with lots of spirit especially during her big first act number ‘Heart to Hart’ by Charlotte Drewett Holden. The dialogue and jokes get bundles of laughter and the poignant aspects are appreciated. Mr Hart is played wonderfully by Craig Arme and this audience love to boo the bad office boss even as the interval starts.
Director Beth Yearsley and choreographer Fiona Cook have really utilised a large cast in giving big dance routines to the talented ensemble. In fact it must be ‘fun’ backstage as the dancers finish one hot routine, disappear into the wings, change costume super quick and are back on stage within a very short period of time. In fact I can say without a word of a lie that this production of 9 to 5 has the most ensemble and small group dance routines that I have ever seen in a show.
If you are looking for an uplifting fun night out, BMTG’s quick paced, boisterous, funny and energetically sung 9 to 5 the musical could be just the ticket. Playing until November 1st 2025.
Photography. Martin Holtom.
