A marionette puppet show at the newly renovated library and a Malibu High production of “9 to 5” round out the weekend’s family-friendly entertainment
By Michael Aushenker / Special to The Malibu Times
This weekend, Malibu High School and the newly renovated Malibu Library are both putting on theatrical performances aimed at local youth. First, the MHS theatre department is putting on four performances of the comedic musical “9 to 5: The Musical,” while a puppet show of the classic children’s story “Peter and the Wolf” will take place at the Malibu Library on Saturday.
“9 to 5: The Musical”
For older audiences, Malibu High School presents the musical “9 to 5: The Musical” across the weekend. The comedy-musical runs for four performances from Friday through Sunday.
Based on the 1980 Colin Higgins movie starring Jane Fonda, Lily Tomlin, Dolly Parton and Dabney Coleman, “9 to 5” stars Tanner Porter as Violet (Tomlin in the film), Martha Thatcher as Doralee (Parton) and Sophia Stewart as Judy (Fonda). The three characters turn the tables on their egotistical, sexist boss, Franklin M. Hart, Jr. (Coleman), who refuses to treat them fairly in the workplace. The original movie, with its $3.9 million opening weekend, went on to score a massive (in 1980s dollars) $104 million and become one of the decade’s most successful comedies.
Comprised of 21 cast members, six crew members and an orchestra of 20, this production features director Jodi Plaia collaborating with conductor Bill Bixler, choral director Amy Loch and choreographer Betsy Melber. Plaia, in her 11th year as Theatre Arts director at MHS, has overseen productions such as “Evita,” “The Three Musketeers,” “Sweeney Todd,” “Les Miserables,” “The Elephant Man,” and “Aida.”
Plaia said she chose “9 to 5” because this year’s theatre department “is extremely girl heavy.”
“I wanted to pick a vehicle that would showcase all the amazing female talent that we have,” Plaia said. “Also, this piece seems so timely right now [given the] economy. As Violet says in the play, ‘It’s the little guy who does all the work.’”
Outside of the famous hit title song, “9 to 5” will feature musical numbers “Around Here,” “Heart to Hart,” “Shine Like the Sun,” “One of the Boys,” and “Change It.”
Plaia is currently enjoying the rehearsal process as they ramp up to opening night.
“The girls have had the opportunity to really get in touch with their ‘girly’ side,” Plaia said. “It’s been a lot of fun. I feel so blessed to work with such talented, smart, funny and kind students every day.”
Staging “9 to 5” does not come without its challenges, including dealing with some outdated equipment “we just don’t have that kind of money” to replace.
Of course, since this is a high school play, some of the elements from the original storyline, such as the working women’s revenge plot-scheming marijuana session, have been softened.
“I’ve chosen to change the pot scene to the aftermath of drinking,” Plaia said. “Pot is illegal and drinking is not (at least not for the women in the story.) And the sex parts are toned down. There’s always a balance I struggle to find with high school productions—integrity to the script and the appropriateness for our audience.”
Ultimately, Plaia hopes the audience will leave smiling.
“It’s an uplifting, feel-good show,” she said. “The little guy does win in the end. I think most of us can use that kind of hope right now.”
Puppets perform “Peter and the Wolf”
On Saturday at noon, the newly renovated Malibu Library hosts a puppet production inspired by Sergei Prokofiev’s classic children’s story “Peter and the Wolf” for kids ages 3-10.
The show will be performed by Jim Gamble Puppet Productions, a SoCal-based company that performs around the nation and has also done versions of “The Nutcracker,” “Hansel and Gretel,” the spectacular “Wonderful World of Puppets” and “Circus!”
“We were looking for a good program to bring and it was recommended by another librarian in the system,” said Katherine Schwartz, community library manager, who said this is one of the library’s special events.
“Peter and the Wolf” tells the story of a young boy named Peter and his duels with a wiley wolf.
The production dates to 1936, when it was written by a Russian classical music composer named Sergei Prokofiev. Prokofiev was commissioned by the Central Children’s Theatre in Moscow to write the original music symphony for children in an attempt to cultivate musical tastes in children at a young age.
“Peter and the Wolf” has gone on to become a classic, serving, a decade later, as the inspiration for an animated Disney short, as well as a 2006 animated short by Suzie Templeton.
Malibu High School’s “9 to 5: The Musical” runs Friday, May 25 at 7 p.m.; Saturday, May 26 at 1 p.m. and 7 p.m., and May 27 at 2 p.m. Admission: $20/adults; $15/students/seniors. To purchase tickets, visit malibuhigh.org.
For more information on “Peter and the Wolf,” contact the Malibu Public Library at 310.456.6438.