I was 13 years old when 9 to 5 came out. I saw it in a movie theater with my mom, and we both enjoyed it. I think I saw it once more a few years later on VHS, but never gave it much thought after that, other than when I heard the theme song on the radio. I would sing along if I was alone and I even know all the words!
I got an invitation to review 9 to 5: The Musical at Breakthrough Theatre Company on Aloma in Winter Park, and was happy to attend as I had never been to the little theatre. I was hoping this would stay true to the movie, because even though it’s been — shut up — years since I saw it, I still remember and appreciate the original.
The show is about three women — Judy (Krys Arvelo), Doralee (Carmen Cartagena), and Violet (Felicia Melcer) — who work at the generically-named Consolidated Industries for president and Grade A slimeball, Franklin Hart (Oliver Merrill). The play was set in the 1980s, which accounts for the rampant misogyny, sexism, and inappropriate behavior on Hart’s part.
Through a series of mishaps, after a marijuana-induced murder fantasies, Hart ends up kidnapped and held hostage in his own home, while Violet, Doralee, and Judy run the company. They send office busybody Roz (Marasha Johnson) to a French-language immersion school and institute over 100 different changes around the office, including allowing part-time work, personal items on desks, and sending office lush Margaret (Keisha Nicole) to rehab.
Hart manages to escape and returns to the office determined to bring his three captors to “justice,” only to be stopped by head honcho Tinsworthy (Larry Stallings). Hart is reassigned to their office in Bolivia as a military coup brews in the capital, and Violet is named the CEO, while Roz is forced to work for Violet.
Plus, in an added storyline, Violet finds true love with Joe, a junior accountant, who helps them identify Hart’s financial misdeeds. It was nice to see the payoff at the end, although I wish there had been stronger development of the story in the first half.
Breakthrough Theatre is a black box theater with minimal decorations (several clocks mounted to the wall and desks populated with electric typewriters, including a blue Smith-Corona, the same model that Kurt Vonnegut used). The rest of the set dressing relied on the audience’s imagination. It’s not a huge stage, which makes dance numbers a bit crowded, the the troupe made it all work with plenty of room to spare.
The one thing I would like to see them add are headworn microphones for some of the singers — they were not able to project over the music they were singing to. I had trouble hearing a couple of them at times, especially when they wandered to the other side of the stage.
A few standout performances and random thoughts I wrote down during the show:
- Franklin Hart (Oliver Merrill) was really easy to dislike. He was slimier than Movie Franklin Hart and I found myself rooting for his demise. Extra applause for Oliver for making Hart so delightfully terrible. I always apreciate a good actor who makes me despise their character.
- Doralee’s hair looks amazing! Great wig or great dye job? Either way, excellent work.
- Doralee’s song, “Backwoods Barbie” was very moving. Really made me sympathize with her.
- Three outstanding singing performances: Doralee, Judy, and. . .Joe the accountant??? Paul Lance has really got some pipes on him.
- When Joe finds out about Hart, he asks Violet on a date, but she says no. He says, “You have Hart locked up in his house, but you’re afraid of a date with me?” I laughed out loud at that.
- “Get Out and Stay Out” was a great anthem for Judy and for women who are tired of dealing with a shitty husband or boyfriend.
One problem with doing remakes of other plays or movies, like 9 to 5: The Musical or Clue is that the temptation is to do an imitation of the original actors. Although I’ve never seen the original musical, I did note that the actors did not try to act like the actors from the original movie. They made the characters their own and stayed true to their own selves, trusting their own skill and craft.
Finally, a bit of theatrical hijinks. Near the halfway point, Violet nearly poisons Franklin Hart and they hear he has been rushed to the hospital. At one point, a detective (Ezequiel Rodriguez) and a police officer are at the hospital discussing a poison victim, lying covered with a sheet on a gurney. Violet tries to flee with what she believes is Hart’s body, only to be so tormented by what she’s done, she goes to confess to the cops about her crime. She lifts the sheet, expecting to see Hart’s body, only it’s a man she’s never met before, and she runs off, relieved.
Typically, the “body” is played by Benjamin Mainville (who also plays Dick, Judy’s ex-husband), and when Felicia Melcer (Violet) raises the sheet, she sees Benjamin under the sheet. Except this time, it was Sid Hair, the father of Wade Hair, Breakthrough Theatre’s executive director. He was still cackling about it at the intermission and told me about it when I got out to the lobby.
All told, this is a great little production in a cozy theatre — the audience may be small, but the cast performs with heart and I think we’re going to hear about some of these actors playing in bigger roles around town as their star power grows.
What a way to make a living!
Cast and crew
- Violet: Felicia Melcer
- Doralee: Carmen Cartagena
- Judy: Krys Arvelo
- Franklin Hart: Oliver Merrill
- Roz: Marasha Johnson
- Joe: Paul Lance
- Dwayne/Ensemble: Micah Gregory
- Josh/Ensemble: Oliver Fox
- Missy/Doctor/Ensemble: Allison Young
- Maria: Kayla Marrero
- Kathy: Jessica Griggs
- Margaret: Keisha Nicole
- Dick: Benjamin Mainville
- Bob/Ensemble: Ezequiel Rivera
- Tinsworthy: Larry Stallings
- Candy Striper/Ensemble: Zee Klem
- Ensemble: Michelle Aviles
- Ensemble: Jade Ganci
- Ensemble: Hillary Grace
- Ensemble: Avery Higgins
- Ensemble: Julia Scully
What: Breakthrough Theatre Company’s production of 9 To 5: The Musical
Where: Breakthrough Theatre Company, 6900 Aloma Ave., Winter Park
When: September 28, 30, October 4, 5, 7 @ 8:00 pm 10:00 pm; September 29, October 6 – 3:00 pm – 5:00 pm
Running time: Two hours, 30 minutes (one 15-minute intermission).
Tickets: $25 General Admission, $20 for seniors, $15 for students, $12 for BTC alumni
Call: 407-920-4034
Online: https://www.breakthroughtheatre.com/event-details/9-to-5-the-musical-september-28-8-p-m-2024-09-28-20-00