Written by orange• November 23, 2024• 10:46 am• Barclay, Irvine, Musical, Uncategorized

UC Irvine Claire Trevor School of Arts presents: 9 to 5 the musical @ Irvine Barclay Theatre – Review

Courtesy of the UC Regents, photo by Jeanine Hill

Written by Patrick Chavis

UC Irvine Claire Trevor School of Arts presents 9 to 5, the musical, now playing at The Irvine Barclay Theater in Irvine on November 21-24, 2024.

Claire Trevor’s production of 9 to 5 is a fun and farcical romp. It highlights many of the struggles women faced in the late 1970s and early 1980s, even with the critical federal laws implemented in the 1960s.

Story:

9 to 5, the musical follows Violet Newstead (Sloane Ptashek), the senior office supervisor, and various other employees at Consolidated Industries as they navigate the toxic work environment and conditions led by their sexist, egotistical, lying, hypocritical bigot of a boss, Franklin Hart, Jr. (Drew Downs).

While 9 to 5 is very comical and over the top in its presentation of how past mores, particularly in the workplace, have affected women. The original film the musical is based on is inspired by a real movement called the 9 to 5 movement that started in Boston, fighting against the continued discrimination women received even with legal precedent. It’s a fight that continues.

As recent as 2009, the Lilly Ledbetter Fair Pay Act was passed to close a loophole when it comes to discriminatory practices towards women. Pieces like 9 to 5 show us where we’ve come from and help us gain perspective on the present. The play and music are also a good time, with music written by Dolly Parton, a true talent from the country music world.

This fast-paced affair, directed and choreographed by Myrona DeLaney, delivers on most of the storytelling aspects of this piece and the singing and acting in moments of thrills. That being said, the show, from a performance perspective, really picks up halfway into the first half and ends with the passionate “Shine Like the Sun” and a second half that blows the first act away. This shows that the talent is there, the concept is there, just a slightly rough start vocally in some aspects. It’s still a quality production and a good time. It’s definitely worth checking out for fans of the material.

Set Design:

The set design by Junyuan Xiong and costumes by Rebecca Shepard are very 80s. From the clear square design of the background walls to the big poof hair and loud blush makeup applied to the characters’ faces. Even If I hadn’t known anything about this show before I walked into the theater, the time period wouldn’t have been hard to guess.

Acting:

Drew Downs is so good in the role of Franklin Hart, Jr. It’s criminal, and he is a criminal, so it works. It’s a dastardly performance from Downs.

Sloane Ptashek (Violet Newstead) provides some of the most consistent performances while maintaining a believable mood of desperation and anger when needed in certain instances.

With a role practically screaming to go wildly over the top, I liked Kaitlin Miranda’s restraint in not going too far but still keeping it funny. Miranda found the right balance of business and silliness with the Roz character.

Look out for Ruby Lapeyre’s (Judy Bernly) showstopper with the tune “Get Out and Stay Out.”

The show mostly provides open seating, so if you drop in early, you can get lucky and sit mere feet away from the pit. Some people like to sit further away, but for me, I had the best seat in the house. Sain Leyva’s Music direction and the full orchestra are not to be missed.