First, let me clarify: the production put on at Savannah Country Day School was not written in the 1970's.
"9 To 5: The Musical" did not come into existence until 2008.
However, the movie upon which Dolly Parton based the music and lyrics came out in 1980, meaning it was written and filmed in the last year or so of the seventies decade.
That would be the time when I was in my late teens, much like these high school actors.
Just think about that for a moment.
They performed a story about sexual harassment, a story their grandparents would have been only too familiar with.
Wow.
I wonder if the students asked those older generations about their experiences then?
Perhaps they did.
Perhaps they even watched the movie beforehand, as I did (thanks, Comcast, for the $1 Movie Night reward!), for tips on mannerisms.
However they prepared, I was very impressed with their performances!!!
At the front of the stage, singing "Around Here", are 'Doralee' (Mollie Macfadyen), 'Violet' (Cleo Shelton), and 'Judy' (Gabby Galoni).
Respectively, they're the happily married secretary, the long-employed widow with four children, and the newly-divorced new hire.
Well, that's what they are in the movie version; here, 'Violet' has only a teen son, but the rest still holds true.
That little difference shows up elsewhere, too, such as the boss getting sent to Bolivia instead of Brazil, as well as a little office romance developing between 'Joe' (Paxton Towe) and 'Violet' (and they even have a song together!).
Oh, one more marked change: when the three women are plotting revenge on their boss, the hunting dream of 'Judy' becomes "The Dance Of Death", which was a nice twist for me.
(Get the pun? Hahahaha!)
Speaking of the "villains" in this story, I would be remiss to not give credit to them.
That's Ian Rogers to the far left and Kensie Glass near the stairs.
Respectively, they were the bossman, 'Hart', and his office snitch, 'Roz'.
Perfectly they played their roles!!!
A special shout out to 'Roz' who didn't skip a beat (another pun!) when her wig went flying off during her love song, "Heart To Hart" - that was quite impressive!!!
One more thing before I close: incredible set design!
Besides those three movable cubes, there were only a loveseat, the boss' desk and swivel chair, and the bed he became chained to.
Those three cubes had different designs on each of the four faces, allowing them to change the location to a hospital, the office cubicles, even the elevator in the building!
John Suchower would have been so proud.
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