9 to 5

My goodness – the ‘Company’ were collectively impressive – not one hesitancy detected. Everyone was on point – clearly determined to entertain and impress us, the audience. Vocally outstanding and totally invested. Mariah Young as Violet Newsted delivered a sound portrayal, of the stalwart office worker who was repeatedly passed over for deserved promotion. Confident and in great voice she looked to be having a good time with all the shenanigans that she had with Jade Thorne as ‘Judy Bernly, and Daisy-Mae Hewett as ‘Doralee Rhodes’.Jade Thorne as Judy Bernley was a good fit as the naive ‘new-be’ who had lied about her skills – and actually prompted the abduction of their lecherous boss. Daisy-Mae Hewett as Doralee Rhodes was a superlative fit. Accent perfect, sufficient innocence to be shocked by the lecherous Mr Hart lying about them having an affair! Again – an excellent vocalist. David Bedford as Franklin Hart handled his central role very well. A believable overbearing and sexist villain! Super! Angela Bowden – as Roz Keith was exceptional. Spell binding in the delivery of her number – ‘Heart to Hart’. Although on the side of the ‘baddies’ you actually felt quite sorry for her circumstances. An excellent auditorium - everyone having a clear sight line of the action unfolding in front of us. I appreciate that managing scene changes at the Gulbenkian can be testing to organise – with only one entrance either side of at the rear of the stage. So well done to stage-crew and cast managing this so very well. Scene changes were executed surely and quickly.A personal taste point was that I would have preferred that the ‘furniture’ had been ‘dulled down’. Raw pine didn’t quite give the impression of a USA 80’s slick office set up and initially broke the excellent spell that the company were weaving to transport us back to days of bouffant hair and slick chauvinist office. ‘Joes’.Director Samuel Hardy Wall, assisted by Choreographer/Stage Manager - Courtney Jones, and their respective teams captured the mood of 1979... so well. A super ‘Company’ production delivered an excellent afternoon’s entertainment.

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© NODA CIO. All rights reserved.