9 to 5 - The Musical

This was a fine evening of entertainment, and the Society was most welcoming as always.

Using recorded music rather than a live orchestra can be quite difficult as the onus is always on the cast to make it work and despite a couple of numbers that seemed to finish quite abruptly, taking the audience by surprise, and very slightly delaying the well-earned applause, TAOS managed it very well.

The Company sang with gusto throughout the show, and every word could be heard clearly!

It was strong cast with no weak link, supported by a formidable ensemble all working as a team.

The set with back projection worked well and is a very useful fairly recent innovation, saving cumbersome and time-consuming scene changes. The props were good and authentic, cleverly used, changing the bed into working desks in the blink of an eye!

Violet Newstead came over extremely well and made the character her own, a bit downtrodden at work by a chauvinistic boss, yet tough and resilient. Lovingly protective of her daughter Jolene (written for a male actor, but worked well with a female and was well performed)

Doralee Rhodes, (the part created for Dolly Parton) was splendid. She looked the part, sang brilliantly, and performed feistily, just like the real thing! 

Judy Bernly developed the character skilfully throughout the performance, entering over dressed, under skilled and totally lacking in self-esteem and ending with a determination to manage her own life with confidence and a newly discovered strength of character. These three actresses supported each other well and their scene with the “enhancing substance” was very funny and expertly performed.    

Franklin Hart was a very good portrayal as the overpowering chauvinistic boss, His walk and stance summed up his character, a man used to his own way in everything, with his staff ready to respond to his every whim. Not least the devoted Roz, nursing a secret passion for him and displaying her inner cougar in her splendid song enhanced by the wriggling hips and suggestive gestures. A gem of a role, well interpreted.

Joe was smitten with Violet and had a super singing voice he just needed a shade more confidence together with Dwayne Rhodes, another good performance. Maybe they were overcome by all the very tough ladies!

Missy Hart, Maria Delgado, Kathy, and Dick Bernly all supported excellently with the always slightly tipsy Margaret giving a lovely performance, never over exaggerated and very funny!

The choreography was good, and the ensemble worked well together, Direction was great and made use of the whole stage, good groupings along with the pace that is so essential in “9 to 5”

It was a shame that there were only a few men but those in the cast performed valiantly. Mr Hart finally getting his comeuppance.  My congratulations to the Director Pauline Farr, Choreographer Abbie Weston and all those involved with 9-5, both front of house and backstage. It was enjoyable from start to finish and the audience lapped it up!

Good luck with Kinky Boots and go find the men!

Graham K. Liverton 

Regional Councillor NODA Southwest

 

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