SF’s 9 to 5 Musical Werks For Your Laughs

Seeing 9 to 5 is pretty a rite of passage for joining the LGBTQ+ community.

If you’re gay, you likely can quote the riotous lines from the film and find yourself in an emotional kinship with these beloved characters. It’s one of many movies that is essential viewing for the gay community…well, maybe mostly gay men.

So when Dolly Parton decided to turn it into a Broadway musical, we turned out in droves.

That musical has since traveled the country and is making its second appearance in the Bay Area at San Francisco’s Ray of Light Theatre. Well, we might claim it’s been here before if we include Peaches Christ’s hysterical spoof 9 to 5 Inches aka Werk!

Now the version from the Broadway stage has shown up at the Victoria Theatre through September 27, thanks to the team from Ray of Light.

This production exceeds all expectations of what a regional show can be. While the cast is amazing, and we’ll discuss them in a minute, one of the biggest stars is the video design by Erik Scanlon in conjunction with the great set design from Matt Owens.

The original production of this show had about 40 set changes. Maybe easier on Broadway, but the video design gives illusions and depth to many of the scenes without having to store a ton of bulky furniture and set pieces backstage. Further, when it relies on physical set pieces, it’s well chosen and perfectly suited for the time period of the show. I was in awe they found six typewriters that looked alike, let alone those bulky 1970s/80s clunky desks.

Then there’s that cast – amazing one and all!

Jessica Coker as Violet is one of the best singers in the Bay Area and it’s no wonder that ROLT has cast her in many shows in the last 20 years from Little Shop of Horrors to Lizzie, she is a force to be reconded with and can battle anyone in a sing-off.

She might have stiff competition from Majesty Scott (Judy) and Malia Abayon (Doralee) who seem to be more comedic with their expert timing than singers. But then they belt out a song and blow us away.

The rest of the cast is also on-point, but do need to say something about Milo Boland who plays the nerdy Joe character, a love interest of Violet. His awkwardness is so adorable and you think he might be there just for the laughs. But he has a duet in the second act that, for a brief moment, I thought the song should be cut. But when he sings – wow. I want more! What a voice that comes out of that timid character. His bio shows a lot of ensemble and understudy work – but he needs a starring role.

The last cast member, kind of cheating, is Dolly Parton herself. Apparently, when you license this show you may have the option of a video of Dolly Parton acting as the narrator – that was a nice little bonus.

Local theatre keeps getting better and better and with so much quality happening out there, we should find the time to support local theatre. By attending a show like this, you will do that and at the same time have the time of your life.

Get tickets and information at www.rayoflighttheatre.com/