Dolly Parton's country crossover hit "9 to 5" has become a staple of pop radio and karaoke set lists because of its indelible chorus and lyrics that any working stiff can relate to. On this original cast album of the musical (based on the movie), the song gets the Broadway treatment, augmented with extra measures for maximum dramatic effect and multiple singing parts. The effect is not quite the same as hearing
Dolly's pert-n-populist rendition, but it is a vivid reimagining with the same spunky attitude as the original. The rest of the numbers, written by
Parton, are pure cornball, but delightfully so in most cases. Allison Janney strikes just the right brassy tone on "Around Here" and
Marc Kudisch and
Stephanie Block create heat on the slinky "The Dance o' Death."
Megan Hilty has the appropriately theatrical twang for
Parton's previously recorded "Backwoods Barbie." "Get Out and Stay Out" is a somewhat ordinary piano ballad fleshed out with
Block's powerful and expressive vocals. The rest of the songs seem thin without an accompanying visual spectacle, but for fans of the Broadway show, the album is a solid memento of a fun evening at the theater. ~ Paula Carino