GIRL power might be a 1990s phenomenon but women were standing up for themselves long before the Spice Girls stepped into their high heels.

The 1980s hit film 9 to 5, starring Dolly Parton and Jane Fonda, has been revived as a stage musical full of sassy women who take drastic action to tackle their sexist boss and his bullying ways.

Mark Moraghan plays scheming company executive Franklyn J Hart, who pushes his female employees too far and gets much more than he bargained for.

This is a bubbly, entertaining show with a talented cast in fine voice.

Dolly Parton look-a-like (and sound-alike) Amy Lennox is excellent as buxom blonde Doralee Rhodes, and Jackie Clune is equally impressive as the power-dressing Violet Newstead, who begins to realise her personal and professional ambitions.

And Bonnie Langford shows she’s as supple as ever as the doting Roz Keith, whose vampish tango with Hart was a comic highlight.

This is far too daft to say anything real about feminism, and on occasions the women’s squawking made me feel that chauvinistic old Mr Hart might have had a point.

Parton’s country-inspired songs work well on stage but don’t really stick in your head once you leave the theatre.

This isn’t one of the greatest musicals ever made, but it does have a certain feel-good factor.

JILL HARDING

* 9 to 5 The Musical runs at The Mayflower Theatre in Southampton until Saturday.

Tickets from the box office on 02380 711811 or mayflower.org.uk.