The curtain is going up on Lincoln County Community Theater’s (LCCT) production of “9 to 5 the Musical” at the Lincoln Theater tonight, Friday, April 6. It runs through Sunday. And you will want to be there for one of the four shows.

The musical, lyrics and music by Dolly Parton, and book by Patricia Resnick, are based on the 1980 film Parton made with Jane Fonda and Lily Tomlin, so if you’ve seen it, the characters will be very familiar to you.  LCCT’s sensational cast is led by Victoria Hamilton as Violet Newstead, Kristen Robinson as Doralee Rhodes, and Emily Mirabile as Judy Bernley. 

For those of you out there who aren’t familiar with the film, which takes place in 1979: Judy is a new hire at a company owned by the sexist, pompous, womanizing Franklin Hart Jr., played with suitable smarmy-ness by Jesse Wakeman. Hart always talks down to his female employees while sizing them up. Violet has been with the company 12 years and has been putting up with Hart taking credit for all of her ideas for most of that time. And, Hart is fond of calling Violet a girl. When she’s punched out, Violet is raising teenaged son Josh.

Doralee is a married southern woman big on personality and curves (in all the right places as far as Hart is concerned). She dresses a bit on the sexy side as compared to Violet’s very professional skirt, shirt and jacket ensembles. The women at the company all dislike Doralee – and, unbeknownst to Doralee, they all think she’s Hart’s mistress. So there’s no one to eat lunch with, have an after work drink with ... Now where could her co-workers have possibly gotten such an idea? One guess.

Finally there’s Judy. Judy’s hub recently left her for his young (make that very young) secretary. Judy’s never had a job before and brings nothing to the table, er, desk, but her honesty and willingness to learn – as overwhelming as it is. She’s feeling a bit lost, sad and ticked off, but she’s not quite ready to get that off her chest yet. She’s just trying to keep herself afloat while she tries to fit in and find her place in the world. Oh, and, “fun fact”: when Judy’s really nervous, she share’s “fun facts” about whatever pops into her head at the moment – she could make an awesome Trivial Pursuit partner.

Scenes you’re going to love: the “mary-wanna” and cocktails scene at Doralee’s. Yep,that’s right, all three women have experienced the proverbial final straws with Hart: Violet because he gave Bob a promotion in the accounting department that Violet thought should be hers – a man Violet trained. Why? He had a family. He went to college. And because clients would rather deal with a man when it came to figures. He topped the news by referring to Violet as a girl. That was a big mistake.

For Doralee, Hart goes too far when he literally pulls her to him by her leg, office chair rolling her to his sleazy arms because he just has to have her. And Violet walks in. Doralee tells Hart off and then Violet refers to Doralee as Hart’s mistress … and light dawns on Marblehead.

When Judy finds out Hart has had another employee fired for asking other coworkers about salaries, Judy worries she might be next. Is this how all companies are? How would she live? How did Hart find out about the salary comparing? Must’ve been that Roz, played by Christina Larson Belknap, Hart’s administrative assistant and office spy (or as Violet describes her, “Hart’s eyes, ears, nose and throat”) – who harbors a gigantic crush and longing to have an intimate encounter to demonstrate her love for him. 

Really angry about losing the promotion, Violet announces she needs a drink and suggests they go throw a couple back. And then she remembers the joint she accepted from her son Josh who was worried about Violet’s non-existent love life and stress level and his mom’s inability to relax.

At Doralee’s, they are enjoying their libations when Violet pulls out the joint. “Is that Mary-wanna?” asks a slightly tipsy, wide-eyed Judy. Yes, it is. Mirabile, Hamilton and Robinson are a riot as their characters get progressively higher and experience that high. The scene is a treat.

During this after hours party, the three women begin fantasizing about how they would kill Hart for his crimes against women – and not just them, but every woman in the company.

Enter five Y-Arts youth actors who act out the fantasy of each of our three heroines: Spencer Pottle, Sarah Harris, Jordan Chamness, Emerson Harris and Sophia Mansfield. In Violet’s fantasy, Hart is being hunted down by all the employees, led by big game hunter Violet who finally shoots him and mounts his head on the wall of her office; in Doralee’s fantasy, the tables are turned ending with Hart being hogtied – and roasted on a spit! Finally, Judy’s fantasy, bless her naive heart, has her as Snow White who delivers a poisoned apple to Hart and ejecting him from his own office chair out an office window.

Using the Y-Arts actors for this scene is an interesting – and unexpected – approach and the kids do a super job.

The day after the party, feeling a tad hungover, Violet accidentally pours rat poison in Hart’s coffee – hey the boxes look almost the same – and from the moment she realizes what she’s done … the show goes into high gear – particularly Hart (heheheh). The women decide to kidnap their boss and hold him prisoner in his own house (his wife is away on a three-week trip). Taking turns, they guard Hart by night while by day, Violet works on gathering evidence of Hart’s suspected illegal business practices. The women also implement some changes in the office – oh, and Roz is sent to a three-week trip out west attending a learn to speak French immersion camp – changes include an onsite daycare, substance abuse rehab – starting with sending a longtime, now alcoholic, employee for treatment – and several other changes that increase productivity. Go Violet!

As is the way with musicals, each main character has their song. Wakeman is super singing “Here For You” about his physical longing for Doralee. Robinson, who I had not heard sing before, has an unforgettable voice, one that not only has wide musical range, but the ability to convey true emotion. You’ll see what I mean when she sings “Backwoods Barbie.”

Hamilton’s “One of the Boys” number is excellent – she is Violet through and through.

Mirabile’s “Get Out and Stay Out” is moving. You can really sense the character’s awareness of her growing strength and belief in herself as she sings these words to her lame husband who ends up wanting her back because his secretary threw him over for a man her own age.

But the real showstopper is Roz’s solo number “Heart to Hart.” Larson Belknap really throws herself into this performance. Just as a side note, I checked out some videos of other productions of the musical and those “Roz’s” – LCCT’s Roz is the best – you’re gonna love it.

The Double D Singers 27-member chorus is truly outstanding and The Push Up Pops is a top notch orchestra … I’m just wondering, knowing how much space is backstage at the Lincoln Theater, how the reeds, trumpets, trombone, guitars, keyboards, drums and other percussion musicians and instruments all fit – I mean there’s a trombone back there!

The set design, by director and conductor John Mulcahy, makes the most of the theater’s small stage with the chorus, many of whom portray other employees, on a riser to the back of the stage. Primary actors have seats in front of the chorus where various props and such are also kept.

An unexpected element in the show is the appearance of Dolly Parton, in a video projected on a screen above the back of the stage, introducing the show and the three leading ladies. There are a few unexpected bits in this fun, lively, don’t miss it show. But let’s face it, things have changed since 1979 … as Dolly says, it was a time when apples and blackberries were something she picked outside her barn.

Get your tickets now! $20/adults, $18/Lincoln Theater members, and $5/18 and under. Call the Lincoln Theater at 563-3424. Show dates and times: Friday, April 6 at  7:30 p.m., Saturday, April 7 at 2 and 7:30 p.m. and Sunday, April 8 at 2 p.m. The Lincoln Theater is located at 2 Theater St., Damariscotta.

You’re humming or singing it already, aren’t you ... “Workin’ 9 to 5,what a way to make a livin’, Barely gettin’ by, it's all takin’ and no givin’, They just use your mind and they never give you credit, It's enough to drive you crazy if you let it ...”