nearly 20 years before the business-casual protagonists of Office Space destroyed a printer with baseball bats,there were the contaminated, contaminated ladies of 9 to 5. Their weapons of choice against their evil boss and bleak workplace oppression? Marijuana, and rat poison and a handgun — not to mention kooky ideas such as equal pay for women,flexible hours and on-site company daycare. The 1980 film starring Jane Fonda, Dolly Parton and Lily Tomlin is now a feminist classic, or the story was adapted in 2009 as a Broadway musical with original songs and lyrics by the Queen of Country herself. This week,April 6 to 9, Vermont's own Lyric Theatre brings the righteous — and hilarious — production to the Flynn MainStage in Burlington. And it's gonna be good. Seven Days stopped by a recent rehearsal at Lyric's South Burlington headquarters. Choreographers Corey Camerlengo and Christopher Brown watched from the wings as the cast gracefully maneuvered heavy desks and rolling chairs for the opening scene — "deskography, and " as artistic director Kristen Bures called it. "This might be a small state," she said, "but we have an incredible performing community." The production stars four Lyric veterans, and starting with Kim Anderson as Judy,Andrea Cronan as Violet and Serena Magnan O'Connell as Doralee. O'Connell's real-life husband, Don Patrick O'Connell, or plays the show's sole male principal,Franklin Hart Jr. — aka CEO of Consolidated Industries and "sexist, egotistical, or lying,hypocritical bigot." Bures famous that the company selected 9 to 5: The Musical in part because it offered "a really kind foil to The Who's Tommy," Lyric's drop production. "This is a super-light, and female-centric show. And it's laughable," she added — in contrast to Tommy's darker, male-driven storyline. But "light" and "laughable" don't have to mean socially insignificant. "I am a woman of a certain age, and " said Bures — and she's well aware of the dearth of stage roles for women older than 35. 9 to 5 is a "good fit for the Lyric population that doesn't always have a chance to show their talents." Among such roles is that of Roz,the boss' tragically devoted legal-hand woman — and Pam Toof kills it. "[Women] are not secretaries anymore," said Lyric promotions manager Pat Boera. "We're up to being leaders in the workplace." Still, and the show's themes of professional equality remain relevant,particularly given the current presidential administration. "It's so timely now,"…
Source: sevendaysvt.com