9 to 5 THE MUSICAL has finally arrived at the Wales Millennium Centre in Cardiff and after this evening’s performance, it’s clear we just can’t have too much Dolly. She wrote all the songs, her name is all over the posters and there she is, popping up during the show, in specially recorded and very well routined moments.
You go into 9 to 5 The Musical knowing it’s set very much in the 80s when times were oh so different. The story has all the elements of the original movie. Three female office workers, coming together to get revenge on their horrible, sexist boss. Yes it’s full of innuendo and a tad ‘Carry On’ in places, but keeping it set firmly back in the day makes all of that work very well.
The audience laughed throughout the show with the humour and the occasional swipe at Donald Trump. 9 To 5 has it all if I’m being honest and was a real surprise. The music is fantastic. The set full of detail and colour with a great use of projection. The choreography was clean and sharp, in fact everything was really top notch. Although the story is very much entertainment, it’s also a little reminder of just how far we’ve come in this world of ours – or not in some cases. As you can see from the video below, the Cardiff crowd loved it too.
Now 9 To 5 is here we thought we’d take a look at the show, the cast and the legendary woman responsible for its music. We all love us a bit of Dolly. Like all superstars of a certain stature, you say their first name and instantly know who we’re talking about. Dolly Parton is one such person. She has quite a history too. She’s actually been making music since 1957 and during that time there isn’t anything she hasn’t done.
She’s famous for many things. A couple of which she constantly references on stage. What isn’t always given enough credit however, is just how incredible her songwriting skills are. She has the ability to touch a chord with all of us. Whether it’s the heartbreaking Jolene or I Will Always Love You, or something a little more upbeat. One line will have you singing, I pretty much guarantee it. ‘Stumble outa bed and I stumble to the kitchen, pour myself a cup of ambition.’ She does it far better than we can. 9 TO 5.
The film was a big success back in the day but seemed to garner more fans over time. The great storyline and those incredibly catchy songs. It was inevitable the movie would one day become a stage musical. And eventually it did.
9 TO 5 – The Movie
Fresh from 5 Star reviews and sold-out houses in London’s West End, 9 to 5 THE MUSICAL tells the story of three workmates pushed to boiling point by their sexist and egotistical boss. Concocting a plan to kidnap and turn the tables on their despicable supervisor, will the women manage to reform the office, or will events unravel when the CEO pays an unexpected visit?
With an Oscar, Grammy and Tony award-nominated score by Dolly herself, and a book by the iconic movie’s original screenwriter Patricia Resnick, this hilarious new production is about teaming up, standing up and taking care of business!
Carolin Sheen and Amber Davies head the cast on the tour. Caroline has more than a bit of history with the show, and here too, she’s a Welsh girl you see. She’s been in so much. Les Misérables (the movie), Mary Poppins – she was Mary on the tour of America. Torchwood and the list goes on. When 9 TO 5 opened in London, you may remember, Louise Redknapp, who was starring in the show, had an accident and couldn’t be there at the start, well, it was Caroline who stepped in. She then rejoined after Louise left.
This isn’t really relevant but we want to say that here at SOUTH WALES LIFE we love Caroline’s husband almost as much as she does. She’s married to the supremely talented Michael Jibson. He too has a fantastic, award winning career. We loved him in the movie The Bank Job and the musical Kiss Me Kate. For us though he will forever personify King George in Hamilton. We were blessed to see him on gala opening night in London and again at the Olivier Awards when Hamilton picked up every award going that year. Michael himself received one that year. OLIVIER AWARDS 2018.
We realise it’s a little irrelevant but any opportunity to mention Hamilton is a good thing, and of course, it’s a nice piece of trivia you can share while you’re enjoying 9 TO 5 THE MUSICAL in Cardiff.
Amber Davies also stars in the show and is another Welsh girl. This is fast becoming a bit of home tour for the cast. Her route into musical theatre is perhaps a little more – unconventional shall we say, but we have seen her and trust us, Amber is fan-bloomin-tastic.
Amber was was a contestant on ITV2’s reality romance show Love Island in 2017. She even turned down a lead role in the musical Hairspray to be on the show. Probably the right thing to do as she actual won the show that year.
Before appearing on Love Island, she said her occupation was as a dancer. She’s also worked as an entertainer as part of London’s circus themed club night Cirque Le Soir – the same saucy club where Love Island’s 2016 winner Cara de la Hoyde performed at before joining the show. Hope you’re following all this closely?
So, as you can see, we have quite a talented lot in Cardiff for the show. Most of all, it’s a fun and funny, sing-a-long night for everyone and with Dolly’s brilliant music, we just know you’ll spend the rest of the night humming every song. We don’t want to give anything away here if you’ve not seen it, but you may well see Dolly on stage in some form or other……..
9 TO 5 THE MUSICAL is at the Wales Millennium Centre till this Saturday the 2nd of November. Go see it, it’s great fun with a superb cast and of course those incredible Dolly songs. For tickets go here 9 TO 5. Finally, there is a bit of a Welsh connection with the London production of the musical. The Hoff has just announced he’s going into it. Take a little look at him and Dolly below….
