Venice Theatre puts on grand play through Nov. 24
VENICE – Years ago, I wrote an article about Dolly Parton’s hair dresser who was vacationing in Venice.
Now, through Nov. 24, not only can you see “9 to 5, The Musical,” at Venice Theatre but you can see Parton herself, via video, as well as Jenny Van Dien as Doralee Rhodes, the role played by Parton in the film for which Parton wrote the score. Doralee Rhodes is the sexy secretary to the ultimate male chauvinist boss, Franklin Hart Jr. (Randy Ronco), who has never promoted Violet Newstead (Kim Kollar), despite all her hard work. But that could prove to be his undoing if the wronged females have anything to do with it.
Longtime fans of Kim Kollar will be pleased to see her son, Charlie Kollar, back in town to play the role of Dwayne.
And do they ever when things get underway on the Raymond Center Stage after the real Dolly Parton makes her video appearance on two office clocks and says, “The whole world is about to change.”
Those clocks are a key part of yet another fine set by Tim Wisgerhof, Venice Theatre’s resident scenic designer. Many changes will occur in these offices and this set handles every one of them.
Change is not just at the company branch run (or perhaps exploited) by Mr. Hart. Yet there is one woman who thinks Hart is wonderful — Roz Keith, played by Janie Gordon. She seems to have a secret crush on the boss who, in her eyes, can do no wrong.
She eavesdrops on the plotters in order to report back to the boss and win favor with him — or perhaps not. The other women need to keep that in mind as they put together their plot to get rid of Hart.
A bit of rat poison in his coffee perhaps — or not.
Amazing that the box of rat poison looks very much like the box of Skinny and Sweet. But there are other ways to get even with Hart. While the plot thickens, there are plenty of dance numbers, lots of singing and sparkly dresses and sequined tuxedo jackets.
For comic relief, there is one other lady in the office who is not a party to the plan to get rid of Hart, mostly because she is too drunk to know what is going on most of the time.
Mrs. Hart, innocent of her husband’s goings on, is played by Amy Gold. Miranda Ledbetter plays Maria.
And then there is that new girl, a divorced housewife with absolutely no office experience. She soon fits in very well, although not necessarily with office work.
“You can’t treat people the way you do and expect them to miss you.” Any one of the women working under Hart might have said that … anyone but Hart’s one admirer, that is.
Men in the show include John Lemon as Dick, Rich Mutkoski as Bob and Eddie Edenfield as Tinsworthy.
That Jenny Van Dien sings so well and even resembles the real Dolly Parton goes a long way to making this show so entertaining.
So do the antics of Violet, Judy, Doralee, Roz and Maria. With Charlotte Crowley as dance captain, Joe Harris and Clint Alexander as the male ensemble players and Lisa Taylor (also Roz understudy) and Jen Szakolczay as the female ensemble, this is quite a show.
Randy Ronco appears through courtesy of Actors Equity Association, the Union of Professional Actors and Stage Managers in the U.S.
“9 to 5” continues through Nov. 24 in the Raymond Center at the back of the three-building Venice Theatre campus while work continues on the Mainstage.
Tickets are $37 for adults, $22 for college students and educators, and $15 for young people.
Venice Theatre is at 140 W. Tampa Avenue in Venice. For tickets, call the box office at 941-488-1115 or visit: venicetheatre.org
Photos by Renee McVety
9 to 5, The Musical 2024
9 to 5, The Musical 2024
9 to 5, The Musical 2024