9 TO 5

A very popular show which has been performed many times in the area, and this production gave such a professional feel to the show with some outstanding performers in the cast.

Slick routines  with very colourful costumes, and the dancing was first class from a very lively ensemble.

The four leading characters in the ladies gave very strong performances all with excellent singing voices and interpretation of very varied characters.

Karen Hughes playing Violet who had virtually run the office and business of Mr Hart with little appreciation, rose from her position in taking over the company. Karen was a natural on stage with great timing and very easy in this role, which was her first in a leading role, and totally convincing in her efforts to get all the staff a fair deal. Very well played.

The character of Judy played so well by Eleanor Rice in her first role with the company was a delight to watch and I am sure this will be the first of many more shows. Facial expressions so good and a great feel for comedy as well as looking so elegant. Teamed with Emma Theedom as Doralee all three ladies really played these roles to perfection and the singing was excellent.

Emma was perfect as the bubbly Doralee who took  no prisoners when her very amorous boss Mr Hart tried to come on rather strong .Emma is a constant great performer in whatever role she takes and goes from strength to strength in every show.

Then we had a the loyal Roz who really had such a fun part and played so well by Emily Littlejohn, this was another hugely well cast character and I loved all the emotions Roz showed through this character.

All four ladies were as good as professionals in the standard and I commend them for their total dedication to making this show so brilliant.

In the lead male character Martin Smith as the boss Mr Hart was superb. Martin got this character spot on with timing and body language, and when on stage commanded the audience’s attention so well. A great character and such fun to watch.

I also thought Adam Overall playing Joe was confident and a nice duet with Violet in “Let Love Grow” which was well sung and tuneful.

The young dancers did well and were very disciplined in their routines and all looked as if they were enjoying themselves which is important to see from the audience.

Here and there a few lighting cues were not as tight as they needed to be with cast coming on and off stage, but good in general and the sound in the main was good .

I would also like to commend Alex Lawrence as Musical Director and his band who accompanied so well. It was good to have a band who played (all twelve of them) with a balance to support all the singers and was the best I have heard recently in this respect.

All in all a super show and such a great standard in their performance which just keeps getting better every time I visit.

A huge well done to Abigail and the whole team. A very warm welcome as always from you all which I appreciated. Keep up the great work you all are achieving here.

© NODA CIO. All rights reserved.