Cast Makes 'Nine to Five: The Musical' a Delight

The Community Players has assembled a vibrant ensemble for “Nine to Five: The Musical,” which pits three secretaries against their male chauvinist boss.

The stage adaptation of “Nine to Five” sticks pretty closely to the hit 1980s comedy, which starred Lily Tomlin, Jane Fonda, and Dolly Parton.

Parton, who serves as a narrator, composed the music and lyrics. The book is by Patricia Resnick, who co-wrote the movie's screenplay.

Director Marcia Zammarelli (“1776”), working with musical director Esther Zabinski, has created a highly entertaining show with three charismatic women in the leads.

Violet Newstead (Lila Del Sesto McAlpine) is the non-nonsense supervisor who gets cheated out of a promotion by the company president, Franklin Hart, Jr.  He is conniving, sexist, narcissistic, lazy, and corrupt to the core.

As Hart, Ron Martin (“All My Sons”) makes for a memorably charming villain. Whether making crude jokes at the secretaries' expense or shamelessly lusting after Doralee, Martin gets laughs even though he's acting like a vile pig. It's a fantastic performance.

There is also soft-spoken Judy Bernly (Becky Minda), whose soon-to-be ex-husband dumped her to be with his secretary. Doralee Rhodes (Kaelyn Boss) is the busty blonde (and aspiring country singer) whom everyone believes is having an affair with Hart. And there's Margaret (Lisa Taylor), who consumes alcohol at her desk as a way of coping with the daily grind.

The trio of Doralee, Violet, and Judy bond after smoking some marijuana, a gift from Violet's teenage son. They all fantasize about killing their nemesis in various ways, including the use of a gun and rat poison.

There is a very funny scene in a hospital after Violet realizes she accidentally poisoned Hart. Violet sees a stretcher with what she believes to be Hart's dead body on it and chews out a candy striper. McAlpine's mannerisms are hilarious to watch. She also rocks a red pantsuit while singing “One of the Boys.”

Minda delivered powerhouse vocals on “Get Out and Stay Out,” a paean to female liberation.

Boss exhibits a lot of good-natured charm as Doralee and is appealingly vulnerable singing “Backwoods Barbie.”

Karen Gail Kessler brought down the house as office busybody Roz, who can barely conceal her inexplicable infatuation with Hart – “Heart to Hart.”

“Nine to Five: The Musical” is silly at times, but also has a social consciousness.

The story is set in the late 1970s, a very different time in American society. Typewriters have been replaced by computers, and women are now running their own companies. However, the epidemic of sexual harassment in the workplace remains a problem. We root for Violet, Doralee, and Judy to overcome the mistreatment they endure daily and cheer when they break free.

The excellent work of the actors and the musicians made this show an absolute delight. I haven't had this much fun in a very long time.

“Nine to Five: The Musical” runs through December 11. The Community Players. Jenks Auditorium. 350 Division Street. Pawtucket, RI. For tickets, visit thecommunityplayers.org or call 401-726-6860.