Actress Maia Beresford will step into the shoes and tunes of Dolly Parton’s iconic character Doralee in Royal City Musical Theatre’s (RCMT) production of 9 to 5 The Musical. On stage at New Westminster’s Massey Theatre from April 25 to May 11, the show follows three co-workers’ plight for revenge against their sexist boss—a story that Beresford hopes will inspire others to find empowerment in their authentic selves.

“Seeing people on stage having that power, camaraderie, friendship and joy, it’s a visceral experience to share with an audience,” she says. “I hope they feel a little lighter when they leave, a little braver, and…that they’re tapping their toes for the rest of the night with ‘9 to 5’ stuck in their head.”

Filling big shoes (and even bigger hair)

The musical originated from the 1980 comedy film of the same name, starring Dolly Parton, Lily Tomlin and Jane Fonda. With the support of Parton, it was adapted into an award-winning Broadway musical, eventually gracing stages in the U.S. and U.K.

“There’s a lot more Dolly-isms within the musical because she had her hands in the music, it’s a little lighter, a little sillier,” says Beresford. “I think that people can really see there’s an elevation of emotion when people are singing.”

As an example, the actress points to one of her favourite scenes: the performance of “Backwoods Barbie.” Serving as Doralee’s solo, the song sees the character reflecting on others’ judgements, while expressing a desire to be recognized for more than her
looks. This introspection reveals a softer side to the character Beresford describes as a ‘firecracker’ capable of commanding a room.

“Portraying Doralee feels very personal because I think Doralee cares; Doralee is sensitive, like I am,” Beresford shares. “It’s this kindness and sensitivity wrapped in this beautiful, silent strength.”

For the actress, the opportunity to play Doralee is a dream come true — one rooted in her lifelong reverence for Parton. While she desires to emulate Parton’s “deep, beautiful, kind soul,” Beresford also gives room for Doralee’s individuality. Rather than doing a Parton impersonation, she plans to bring her own version of Doralee to the stage.

“What was really important was to not make it a joke, not make it an impersonation or a caricature of what Dolly or Doralee is,” the actress shares. “Doralee is her own character; she just so happens to have the same grit and glitter of Dolly Parton.”

An empowering collective

For Beresford, part of 9 to 5’s magic is making heavy topics accessible. She sees the musical as tackling gender inequality and toxic workplaces in ways that showcase the power of the collective—all the while bringing the fun.

“There’s a song called ‘Chang It’ in the second act where the three women are saying, ‘If there’s a dam, just knock it down, you have the power to change your life,’” she adds. “I want people to feel brave, to feel inspired to be brave, and just to enjoy themselves.”

The actress also resonates with the musical’s theme of self-worth, particularly when embracing one’s authentic self. Coming from a musical family, Beresford has long been involved in the performing arts. In fact, she embodied Doralee’s bravery even before landing the role.

“I almost didn’t audition for 9 to 5 because I was so nervous [and] it meant so much to me,” she shares. “I told myself, ‘You would kick yourself if you didn’t audition for this, and if you don’t get a call back [or] even if you don’t book it, you still did it.’”

Beresford credits her “powerhouse” castmates—Irene Karas Loeper (Violet) and Madeleine Suddaby (Judy)—as providing the support necessary to bring her version of Doralee to the stage. She believes that their camaraderie will translate into a fun-loving performance for the audience.

“It’s a fun story, you’re rooting for them,” she shares. “There’s some silly, silly stuff, and then there’s some really heartwarming, empowering scenes.”

For more information, see https://royalcitymusicaltheatre.com/.