9 TO 5 THE MUSICAL AT THE NEW ALEXANDRA THEATRE, BIRMINGHAM
Theatre Run: Monday 17 December 2012 - Saturday 5 January 2013
Performance Viewed: Wednesday 19 December (Gala Press Night)
Reviewed by Kyle Pedley
9 to 5 The Musical is something of a double dose of musical ‘jukeboxing’, being both based on the existing 1980 comedy film of the same name and also taking its soundtrack mostly from the queen of country’s two most recent LP’s Backwoods Barbie and Better Day. Throw in it being derived from an original Broadway production, and you’d be forgiven for thinking the show had an uphill climb to bring anything original or fresh to audiences. Following the exploits of three female co-workers in the male-dominated playground of the late 1970’s workplace where bigotry and sexism remained the de facto norm, rampant and unchecked, mostly at the hands of their womanising, cheating scoundrel of a boss, and you also have a safe bet of knowing how the story is going to play out (and chances are you’ll be right).
