9-5 The Musical

“Working 9 to 5, what a way to make a living……”. I haven’t actually seen 9-5 before but talking of making a living, I couldn’t imagine a professional company presenting this much better than what I saw tonight! There was a total sense of joy to this production, the cast were exuding it throughout the performance. I love the synergy between the Chair’s message in the programme and the themes on stage – the fight that amateur theatre has to keep performing in the face of increased costs and challenges has overtones of the fight presented on stage of women demanding their due in the workplace. I think both messages will continue to be very current moving forwards but just like Violet, Judy and Doralee achieve their aims, I am sure Musical Theatre Stafford will be delighting us into the distant future.

Jess Smith, Laura Foxcroft and Suzie Kemp created an engaging show that had the audience captivated from beginning to end and they have very impressive resumes across the board, the impact of which was clear to see. It was a large company with complex choreography and vocal demands and apart from the odd incredibly minor lapse, the results of all their hard work and creative vision was very clear to see.

The static set was very simple and very effective because of it. The changes of moveable pieces were expertly handled by the ensemble (I have never seen “stage-hands” move with such rhythm!) Another first was an actor left tied to a bed for the interval but at least he was comfortable and the character did deserve far worse! Costume was excellent, of the era and perfectly in keeping. The sound was good throughout, the vocal was clear even when speaking over music. A shout out here to the excellent musicians who as always were much appreciated whilst remaining unseen.

Tracey Brough-Chesters, Kellymarie Matthews, Alex Baglin & Tim Cooper – our three principal women were a delight. Tracey as Violet spoke for us all when fighting against the injustice of being overlooked when infinitely more qualified, Alex as Doralee perfectly expressed the frustration of being judged entirely on your looks rather than your competence and Kellymarie as Judy was fabulously bewildered when we first met her. A shout out here for the demonstration of range during the sequence in the evening dress as you very competently went from overwhelmed newbie to femme fatale. And Tim as Franklin Hart gave us the villain we all love to hate with a great performance of the misogynistic (or of his time?!?!) boss. Had it been panto, we would have booed!

The rest of the cast offered us some fabulous performances too – Roz, Joe, Dwayne, Maria, Kathy, Margaret, Josh, Missy, Dick, Tinsworthy and Bob were all stellar in support of the principals. A couple of shout outs, Helen-Sian as Roz gave a great portrayal of how we can’t control who we love and Margaret was a fantastic drunk! Having done this myself, I always have sympathy as acting drunk is much harder than it looks! Every performer here gave a consummate performance as did the ensemble cast, there was some serious talent on the stage in the background looking at the movement and vocals.

Could I say there was never a note or a dance move that went slightly awry? No! Does it matter? Absolutely not! The cast were giving it there all, having a ball and the audience therefore were doing the same and I know everyone left singing 9 to 5! Out on the street outside the Gatehouse, the traffic definitely would have started jumpin’!

© NODA CIO. All rights reserved.