Allard Law alumni take the stage in 9 to 5: The Musical

Each spring, members of BC's legal community trade courtrooms for the stage in The Lawyer Show, an annual musical theatre production in support of Touchstone Theatre. From May 27 to May 30, the cast will present 9 to 5: The Musical, the beloved Dolly Parton comedy about friendship, ambition and office rebellion. 

Among this year's performers is the multi-talented Allard Law alum Alexei Paish (JD '19), who will be playing percussion in the production's pit band. Currently an associate at Thorsteinssons Tax Lawyers, Alexei trained and worked professionally as a percussionist before pursuing a legal career. 

We spoke with Alexei about rediscovering musical theatre through The Lawyer Show, balancing law and the arts, and the importance of the office comedy.

How did you first get involved with the Lawyer Show?

I first heard about it from the wonderful Alison Colpitts (JD’19). I was eager to play, but it wasn’t until several years later that a show was selected that required percussionists. Alison remembered that I wanted to participate and connected me with Touchstone Theatre. I’ve been performing in The Lawyer Show ever since!

Tell us a bit about your role in The Lawyer Show band as the percussionist.

Percussionists are the “Swiss army knife” of the pit band, playing dozens of instruments and doing everything from practical sound effects to key melodic passages. It’s pretty common to be switching between instruments every couple of seconds, and every aspect of the performance – putting down or picking up instruments and mallets, turning pages, changing electronic instrument settings, and of course playing the part – is one large, choreographed dance that runs through the entire show. 

Audience members take notice and often swing by after the show to ask about the various instruments and logistics involved in the performance. Swing by and I’ll happily answer your questions!

What made you say “yes” to joining 9 to 5: The Musical?

I needed a break from my 9 to 5.

But seriously, the practice of law can be all-consuming and it’s important to nourish other aspects of your life that you enjoy. Work-life balance is real and it is important. Continuing to play music is an important part of work-life balance for me, and I can’t imagine a better avenue for it than The Lawyer Show.

Which Dolly Parton song from the musical is your favourite to perform? And which one is the most challenging?

Perhaps surprisingly, the pit band doesn’t start rehearsing together until a few weeks before the show. It all comes together very fast.

Based on my solo practice, my favourite number has to be the opener: 9 to 5. This song is one of my son’s favourites and has seen regular rotation over the last several months. My part isn’t all that difficult, but it doesn’t matter: at the end of the day, good music is simply fun to play.

There is a suite of songs in the first act where each protagonist has a sort of fantasy (I won’t spoil too much). Each fantasy has its own unique musical style, and the sequence is long and chaotic. There is also lots of moments in that sequence where percussion sound effects are given a very prominent role. This is easily the most challenging part for me, but also among the most exhilarating in the show!

It was 1980 when 9 to 5 first premiered in movies theatres, and the musical adaptation is still going strong. What do you think makes this story so enduring?

I think there’s always going to be cultural space for office comedies because it’s a familiar environment to a wide audience which hasn’t changed all too much over time, even if the minutiae of office life has. The prototypical characters in 9 to 5 – the repugnant boss, nosey administrator, naïve new hire – are all people you’re likely to come across at some point in your life. This makes it easy to relate to the story and root for the characters – or against them.

I don’t want to give away too much of the show for those who haven’t watched it, but it’s also worth mentioning that 9 to 5 is a dark comedy which squarely addresses gender inequality in the workplace. I’m too young to have witnessed its impact in 1980, but the topics it addresses certainly remain relevant almost 50 years later. It’s depressing, but as long as gender inequality in the workplace persists, 9 to 5 is likely to endure.

What’s been your favorite Lawyer Show moment?

My son was four years old when we did The Addams Family last year. He was already very interested in musicals, but had never seen me play in one. He attended opening night and was sitting right next to the pit. He loved everything about the show: slapstick comedy, Latin-themed music, costumes, set design, choreography, you name it. I could barely focus because I was too distracted watching him! Suffice it to say, we listened to the soundtrack in the car for the next several months. 

There are too many great moments in past Lawyer Shows to count, but that one is hard to top.

What’s more intimidating: a courtroom or opening night?

A courtroom, every time. Opening night can be difficult, but it is seldom part of the public record.

Why should everyone come out to see this year’s show?

Well, there’s two reasons.

First, the show itself will be great. There are so many talented lawyers (and adjacent professionals) who pour their hearts and souls into every aspect of this production. If it’s anything like our past productions, you’d be a fool to miss it.

Second, proceeds from the production go to a great cause! The Lawyer Show is the signature fundraising event for Touchstone Theatre, which is a registered charity dedicated to creating and promoting Canadian plays. Preserving a uniquely Canadian voice in the performing arts is worthwhile and attending a distinctly Canadian production has always been impactful to me. Regardless of whether you can attend The Lawyer Show, you should absolutely check out the amazing work that Touchstone Theatre is doing to create, preserve and disseminate Canadian culture.

Alexei Paish (JD ’19) is an associate at Thorsteinssons Tax Lawyers, where he maintains a broad practice focused on achieving tax efficiency across his clients’ personal and business affairs. He currently serves as the vice president of the Canadian Tax Foundation’s Vancouver Young Practitioners Steering Committee and is an instructor and author for Chartered Professional Accountants (British Columbia) and the Continuing Legal Education Society of British Columbia. Alexei also serves as a director of the Pacific Symphonic Wind Ensemble and previously worked as a professional freelance percussionist with organizations including the Victoria Symphony Orchestra, Vancouver Island Symphony and Theatre Under the Stars. During his time at Allard Law, he received numerous awards, including the Honourable R.L. Maitland Memorial Scholarship for highest standing in his second year of law.