It was nearly impossible in 1980 to leave a movie theater screening “9 to 5” without singing Dolly Parton’s hit title tune. In 2025, it’s nearly impossible to leave Novato Theater Company without singing or at least humming the same song.
The madcap film comedy, a cult classic set in the late 1970s, had a stellar cast, including Parton, 79 (who recently postponed scheduled Las Vegas shows due to unrevealed health issues), Jane Fonda, Lily Tomlin and Dabney Coleman.
While the Novato musical cannot compete with Hollywood’s star power, it does deliver fast-paced, zany comedy like in the movie.
“9 to 5: The Musical,” with added music and lyrics by Parton, debuted on Broadway in 2009. Its wire-thin plot adhered to the film fantasy by Patricia Resnick, who adapted her original screenplay for the stage. A trio of working women daydream about getting revenge on the villain, their disrespectful, lecherous boss, Franklin Hart Jr. Under the influence of cannabis called Maui Wowee, they decide to kidnap and tie him up.
How does a throwback view of women’s place in the business world compare with today’s? One 18-year-old theatergoer in the workforce overheard after Sunday’s matinee performance said “not that much has changed. Men still make sexual comments all the time—and brag about sleeping with somebody when they haven’t.”
Andrea Thrope plays Violet Newstead (the Tomlin role), an angry long-timer passed over for a promotion; Bethany Cox portrays Doralee Rhodes (the Parton role), Hart’s sexy target (with blond hair piled as high as Parton’s and almost as tall as Rebel Wilson’s in a current TV commercial spoof); and Lauren Sutton-Beattie plays Judy Bernly (the Fonda role), the newbie secretary.
All three are noteworthy actors with robust, clear singing voices that allow the lyrics to shine through in the bouncy, breezy community theater production. Also notable are the rubber-faced comic chops displayed by show-stopping Amy Dietz as Roz Keith, who hounds Hart even more than he pursues female flesh.
In a recent weekend performance, director Larry Williams handled the role of Hart, a skirt looker-upper and bottom-pincher, with aplomb. Pat Barr portrays the sexist, egotistical, hypocritical bigoted boss in remaining performances.
Costume designer Adriana Gutierrez provides wondrously eye-popping attire (such as pouring Violet into a playful, colorful Snow White outfit) and keyboard player Nick Brown conducts the just-offstage band with mastery, keeping members of the sold-out audience tapping their toes.
Board president Marilyn Izdebski, who also dons hats as choreographer, program co-designer, and producer, proves the old chestnut that if you want jobs done well, give ‘em to the busiest person around.
“9 to 5: The Musical” continues through Oct. 12 at Novato Theater Company, 1520 Nave Drive, Novato. Tickets are $25-$37 at novatotheatercompany.org.
Contact Sherwood “Woody” Weingarten, a member of the San Francisco Bay Area Theater Critics Circle and author of four books, at voodee@sbcglobal.net,, https://woodyweingarten.com or https://vitalitypress.com.