Theater Review: Beef and Boards Dinner Theatre: 9 to 5 the Musical

Once upon a time, not so very long ago...was a world where women were looked upon as inferior in the business world. They were sexually harassed, passed over for promotions, received lower wages for the same position. In 1980 a movie took a humorous look at the "what if" factor giving females everywhere a laugh at their "Good Ol' Boys Club" bosses.

Beef and Boards brings that hit film, "9 to 5" to the Indianapolis stage as it continues its 40th anniversary of success. Three ladies (Dolly Parton, Lily Tomlin and Jane Fonda in the movie) Doralee, Violet and Judy, accidentally poison their boorish, sexist boss Franklin Hart, Jr., (Dabney Coleman in film). When he survives, they kidnap him until they have proof of his embezzlement of company funds.
Bringing in the queen of our hearts, Sarah Hund, is always a smart move ~ popular with Indy audiences and critics alike. As one of my Destination Actors, Hund never fails to light up the stage ~ seen at B&B in Sound of Music, Smoke trilogy, ...Spelling Bee, and Singin' in the Rain to name a few. This time the musician, singer, and stage and television performer takes on the role of Judy Bernly, new girl to the office. Forced into the workforce by a midlife husband who leaves her for a 19 year old, Bernly strives to prove her worth in life to her ex, bosses and herself.
Normally given comedic and quiet roles, she is allowed to strut her stuff this go round. Hund brings down the house with her empowering, soulful and vulnerable solo, "Get out and Stay Out."

Violet Newstead, the hard-working woman who accidentally drops rat poison in Hart's coffee, is performed by Annie Edgerton. She last delighted us as Paulette in Legally Blonde, stealing the show and capturing Indy's attention. As the intelligent, drab, overlooked assistant to Hart, Edgerton's animated "Potion Notion" is delightful and charming, allowing her whimsical side to shine along with her strong, smooth vocals.

Portraying adorable Doralee Rhodes, the Texan with a big heart, is Crystal Mosser, making her debut at B&B. Her sweet temper turns spicy when she learns her boss, Hart, has spread the rumor they are having an affair. Mosser shines brightest during her fiery temper scenes.

Andrew Lebon steps up to the despicable role of the sleazy boss giving the audience someone to loathe.

Scenic designer Michael Layton's set smoothly transfers the audience from office building to hospital, backyard and various home settings ~ no simple feat on the small stage.

*Special note ~ marijuana smoking and sexual conversations make this show inappropriate for children.

Bottom Line: Beef and Boards brings a DD-sized frolicking, adult fun to Indianapolis with "9 to 5: the musical."

Images: JulieCurryPhotography.com

Elizabeth J. Musgrave is a syndicated fine-living, travel columnist, freelance writer and photographer, and performing arts and restaurant critic for Gotta Go. Read Infused, her spirits, wine & beer lifestyle column, at www.GottaGo.us and www.FoodDigital.com and catch her as Indy’s Entertainment Adviser on 93 WIBC. Gotta Go is published on www.Gottago.us, www.BroadwayWorld.com, an in print. Follow her on Twitter @GottaGo, LinkedIn and Facebook.

Broadway Across America: Jersey Boys

If you are fortunate enough to review theater long enough you will come across performances which sail above the majority. I have been that fortunate, on a few occasions, to witness the short list of shows setting a standard to which others strive to match.

Broadway Across America's Jersey Boys is one of those shining stars. Four boys from the wrong side of Newark (is there a right side?) Walk Like a Man onstage at The Murat Theatre, 502 N. New Jersey St., through July 3. The Tony and Grammy award-winning show hits every note and every emotion at full throttle and with an Italian sledge-hammer intensity.
In the gritty New Jersey jungle where you, "Join the Army, get mobbed up or become a star," four street thugs scratch, bribe and threaten their way up the ladder of pop idol stardom. Golden egg and falsetto-voiced teenager Francis Castelluccio-Frankie Valli (Joseph Leo Bwarie) becomes lead singer for the ever-turbulent band which eventually settles on the name The Four Seasons. Other members of the group include bad boy Tommy DeVito (Matt Bailey), neurotic, brooding Nick Massi (Steve Gouveia) and songwriting child prodigy Bob Gaudio.
With a street-tough stage and an in-your-face approach, the audience is delivered a documentary musical ripe with behind-the-scenes juicy details including, prostitutes, failed marriages, fights, jail time, blood, booze, certain Italian affiliations and loan sharks...kind of like a mob movie, complete with Joe Pesci, set to amazing music.
Shed your rose-coloured, dreamy pop icon glasses at the door, folks, 'cuz this ain't no group of Catholic choir boys. These almost-wise guys have each others' backs, secrets and loyalty. Their rise to fame was no walk in the park.
Each of the four members takes a metaphoric season giving a blow-by-blow account interjected with several of the 29 No. 1 hits. Belting out the songs (Sherry, My Eyes Adored You, Big Girls Don't Cry, Walk Like a Man) in rapid-fire, concert-style succession, gives definition to the lyrics' origins, including Oh What a Night, about Gaudio's loss of virginity.

Swearing like, well, guys from Jersey, the finger-snapping, dapper-dressed, well-choreographed group lays it all out there...judge them and take a chance on their wrath, because they are not ashamed. Like them or not, they are who they are...American born and American proud. Rising to fame and fortune was not easy and they earned every penny.
Selling 175 million albums, the Hall of Fame inductees parted ways when financial disaster, through De Vito's gambling mishaps, was brought to light...by the loan sharks. After pledging to the mob that he would pay back every penny owed by his Jersey buddy, Valli, along with Gaudio, continued on with touring. Massi departed from the group at that time, citing a need to be home with his family.
The show's final 'season' was narrated by Valli's account of going solo. Always the idealists, Gaudio and Valli continue their handshake partnership, dividing all monies gained through solo ventures, remaining best friends to this day.
Whether over, or under, the appropriate age to remember this group's rise to fame, chances are you know the music, lyrics and songs. Although not as great as the real thing, this version of Valli and the Four Seasons is as close as you could hope to find.
As a writer, you may find it strange when I say there are not enough words in Mr. Webster's dictionary to explain the phenomenon going on at The Murat Theatre, so I will put it succinctly.

Bottom Line: DO. NOT. MISS. Jersey Boys...for any reason. Lie, cheat, steal...whatever it takes...Jersey Boys is the one you do not want to miss for the 2009-10 season.
For tickets and information, visit http://www.broadwayacrossamerica.com/shows/jerseyBoys.html

Elizabeth J. Musgrave is a syndicated columnist, theater critic, and travel writer. You can now follow her on facebook and catch her as Indy's Arts & Entertainment Adviser on 93 WIBC's Saturday Morning News Show, giving a quick Gotta Go list of things to do in the Indy area, including restaurants, festivals, events, theater, and films.

**This column appears in its entirety, or in an edited version, in the following newspapers:
South Sider Voice, West Side Community News, West Indianapolis Community News, Pendleton Times-Reporter, Fortville-McCordsville Reporter, New Palenstine Reporter