9-5

On Wednesday evening 12th October 2022, the foyer of Lowestoft Players Theatre was packed with groups of people bustling with anticipation to see their latest presentation.

9-5 tells a satirical story set in 1979, of a business modeled with the attitudes of the era. A tyrannical sexist boss-man and 3 pool women secretaries determined to change the balance of power. Men were bosses, women were secretaries!

Violet (Emily Simpson) showed herself as a woman with a determination to achieve success, Doralee the Dolly Parton role (Polly Blowers) played a sassy married woman with a determination to stay true to her husband and Judy (Daisy Such) decided she was not going to let a failed marriage influence her life with a determination to make it alone. These three characters worked well together with style, establishing a firm relationship on stage and developed good individual characterisations. Ros (Paula Crisp) gave a hilarious and outstanding portrayal which had the audience and myself enthralled by her desperate and unfulfilled love for Franklin. The comic tango number was excellent. Franklin (John Marjoram) played the part with a great sense of the era, a dominant man in a man's world. superb. I loved the flying scene at the end of Act 1 especially when he was 'left' during the interval. An inspirational moment. All the cast supported each other making scenes look constantly busy both in the office and the hospital.

The Creative Team encaptured all forms of the Musical Theatre experience for 1979 and showed insight within the performance for this time. Thankfully the issues at the beginning of the show were quickly resolved.

The furniture, stage sets, screen and various props (Ros's case was so clever) enhanced the storyline and how the adept cast incorporated this into the scene with speed and ease. Just a personal view in respect of creating reality in Musical Theatre, the characterisation needs to continue while in view of "all", the audience and on stage, when not directly involved with the conversation. Coffee cups are picked up and drunk very differently when full of coffee. The lighting was superb. Good ideas were used to stimulate the look of the late 70s with costumes but just a note all shirt collar buttons were fastened and ties knotted to the collar line at that time.

This Dolly Parton extravaganza provided a wonderful evening of comedy, fun and entertainment both to an appreciative audience and myself. Thoroughly enjoyable. well done to all involved. 

 

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