A play review by Sofia Lambis
Musical Theatre Bristol’s latest production of the iconic show 9 to 5 takes the audience to Consolidated Industries, where capable-but-overlooked Violet, bubbly-and-underestimated Doralee (Dolly Parton’s iconic character) and newly-divorced newbie Judy live in the shadow of their tyrannical boss Hart.
A thoroughly unpleasant character, who ignores Judy, promotes underqualified men instead of Violet and harasses and spreads rumours about Doralee, Hart is enemy number one for these three women. Entering with very different personalities and at first disliking each other, the three eventually become close friends and must work together after Violet accidentally poisons Hart. And said collaboration may or may not involve tying him up and trapping him in Judy’s house for a few weeks…
The show was a joy to watch – Evie Clarke, Jasmine Sakpoba and Faz Henderson excelled in their roles as the unlikely yet loveable trio of Judy, Violet and Doralee. They emphasised the show’s themes of female friendship, solidarity and sisterhood. The incredible vocal range and witty one-liners from Roz (Hart’s sycophantic assistant played by Izzy Long) were brilliant to watch. From the very beginning, the audience was hyped – they cheered on the characters, clapped for the songs and dances, and gave a standing ovation at the end. The atmosphere felt so friendly and supportive and it gave watching the show an entirely new dimension.
The set and costume design was awesome and full of little details. They recreated an office environment using two levels on the stage, the workers on the stage floor and Hart’s office on a small balcony above. Hart had two framed photos of himself on his desk, and at one point entered wearing massive bunny slippers. A show filled with dancing, music and choreography, it was always entertaining (the costume change times alone were impressive). ‘Playing from the orchestra pit, the live band led by Toby England made the experience truly immersive, ensuring the performance (and its audience) never lost its energy.
Multiple forms of misogyny are explored in the show – sexual harassment, relationship dynamics, being overlooked and underestimated in the workplace. The trio, whilst encountering different kinds of misogyny, bonded from the shared experience of being undervalued and treated unequally. Speaking to TWSS about the three main characters, director Issy Davey said that ‘they represent very different parts of women and what it means to be a woman and what it means to be female. But I do relate to each of those characters, which I think is a really nice thing about it, that it’s not just one character. It’s meant to represent everything.’
The director researched intimacy coordination in preparation for some of the more uncomfortable scenes involving harassment and misogyny and also spoke to sexual violence advisors within the university.
The production was conducted in support of Bristol Women’s Voice, a local charity dedicated to empowering marginalised women. Thanks to the success of previous productions, the directors knew it could be used as a platform for fundraising and wanted to find a Bristol-based charity to raise money for. The directors also researched other support found in and around Bristol, signposting The Bridge, SARSAS, Kinergy and WomenKind in the show’s programme. The director hoped that the production would increase awareness and make sure knowledge of available support systems is accessible to all. ‘‘This story, though disguised beneath Dolly Parton, Cowgirl boots and flashy office decor, is a story of female empowerment and sisterhood.’
To access support or to hear more about Bristol Women’s Voice and their incredible work, please visit https://www.bristolwomensvoice.org.
Sexual Violence- https://www.thebridgecanhelp.org.uk/
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