![Left to right: Sarah Dothage, Valerie Dykes, Kipp Simmons and Jessica Alcorn in "9 to 5, the Musical".](http://cdn2-b.examiner.com/sites/default/files/styles/image_content_width/hash/47/c1/47c1a7c551e02962251f16e0a233e2c4.jpg?itok=0nlzxoNi "Left to right: Sarah Dothage, Valerie Dykes, Kipp Simmons and Jessica Alcorn in "9 to 5, the Musical".")
“9 to 5, the Musical” opened Friday Feb. 22 at the Barn Players in Mission, Kan. The play from the book written by Patricia Resnick and with music and lyrics by Dolly Parton is based on the 20th Century Fox movie, which starred Dolly Parton.
Nino Casisi directs this hilarious tale of an egotistic boss who is overthrown by three female office workers. The play is fabulously produced with the musical direction of Kevin Bogan. The audience can sit back and thoroughly enjoy a night of terrific music, songs and humor that allows them to forget about the pending snow fall, or the one that blanketed the city a few days before.
Jessica Alcorn brings to life the role of Doralee Rhodes, which was played by Dolly Parton in the movie. Doralee is the secretary to Franklin Hart, Jr. (played superbly by Kipp Simmons), who teams with two other secretaries to take over the daily operation. Alcorn has a magnificent singing voice and at times during the show it would be easy to imagine Parton in the role, as Alcorn sounded remarkably like her. Her stage presence was outstanding and the audience attention was drawn to her when she was on stage.
The part of Judy Bernly was played by Sarah Dothage. Dothage brought believability to the role as a new hired with little or no confidence to the ever confident employee that Judy becomes. Her characters growth is brought to light at Hart’s house when she sings, Get Out and Stay Out to her ex-husband. Dothage has a beautiful voice and was a delight to listen to, even while singing as the confident yet angry ex-wife.
Valerie Dykes is fantastic as Violet Newstead, the secretarial supervisor, who joins with Rhodes and Bernly in taking over the office. Hilarity breaks out as Violet goes to the hospital to check on Hart and believes he may be dead. Her body language and timing is tremendous as she makes the audience feel the relief towards the end of the scene when she discovers a body is not that of Hart.
Whether it is the orchestra in the bullpen, the office workers and company or the ensemble the entire cast pulls together for a delightful evening of music and laughs. “9 to 5, the Musical” will run through March 10 and tickets can be purchased from the Barn Players.
The Barn Players next production will be “Chess” and will run from April 12 to 28 at the theater.
Comments