Last night I took my very first foray into the Grand Canal Theatre (the Bord Gias Energy Theatre) fortwo of my favourite things, a musical and Dolly Parton music.  The show is based on the film of the same name which was released in 1980 and stared the lady herself.  The Tony-nominated musical will run until tomorrow and tickets are still on sale for a little as €20.

The story centres on three disgruntled office workers who, in 1979, have to put up with a boss, Franklin Hart Jr,  who is so sexist he beggars belief.  The UK and Ireland version of the show starts Natalie Casey, Jackie Clune and Amy Lennox and all three deserved their standing ovation last night along with Bonnie Langford who steals more than a scene or two as Franklin’s love-sick assistant.

It's so hard to make a livin'

Dolly birds

The show and it’s characters are introduced by none other than a cleverly recorded Dolly Parton who appears in a clock face over the stage.  You gotta love her, she finished the show too and we were all on our feet singing along to the one and only 9 to 5.

The show included classics like Backwoods Barbie and Let Love Grow as well as knew material.  The whole thing was brought together wonderfully and you couldn’t help but leave with a smile on your face.

It makes you laugh, gets your feminist juices flowing and encourages you to grab life by the short and curlies.  What more could you ask for on a freezing January evening?