9 to5 The Musical

9 to 5 was to be a new experience, a show I had never seen, but heard about, having waited for over two years to see this show. I wasn’t sure whether I was looking forward to this or not, I had never particularly listened to Dolly Parton’s songs and maybe had expected ’country and western songs’, I was pleasantly surprised.

What I wasn’t surprised at was the quality of the singing, having heard this company’s singing in their 2019 production of Little Shop of Horrors this hadn’t changed in the last 3 years.

March Community Centre is not the most welcoming of venues for Cast performing a show, however the company made the most of the restrictions backstage, on stage and front of house. The production team had made the most of space restrictions to create movable Toblerones (for want of a better word) that were so flexible that they rotated, opened up to make almost a box set, had different uses for the various scenes. There were also two desks and a double bed used for setting scenes, despite this the stage never seemed crowded or overdressed, the cast and the back stage crew worked wonders, the only problem being that with the use of click tracks there no opportunity to vamp with some of the scene change blackouts. The props and sets were very good, time appropriate and even a photocopier that shot out sheets of paper.

This show revolves around the antics of the three female leads Violet (Claire Lilley), Doralie (Eleanor Pettet) and Judy (Amy Carter), These three worked extremely well together, having good on-stage chemistry interacting with each, bringing out the comedy as necessary and also acting with other fellow members of the cast. Most of all though it was the quality of their singing which stood out both as solo singing and duets and trios. It is not easy to sing a whole show with backing tracks rather than live music but there were no problems here with some great numbers, Violet’s ‘Around Here’, Doralee’s ‘Backwoods Barbie’ and Judy’s final number ‘Bet Out and Stay Out’ and the large numbers ‘Shine Like the Sun’ and ‘Change It’. They clearly showed the emotions of frustration, friendship, disappointment and finally success.

These three were more than ably supported by Hannah Furlong as Roz Keith and Stewart Bettles as Franklin Hart Jr who both provided great characterisation and humour in their roles. Enjoying the romantic overtures of Roz and the memorable moment of Franklin and Judy engaging on and falling off the chaise.

The cast of named roles and additional singers all played their part in providing the audience with an entertaining and enjoyable evening’s entertainment. The nuances the characters portrayed joining in fully with office life and the quirks that can be seen in those people in that office bringing it to life. Company movement and dialogue and singing was good, a fine little tap dance routine all added life to this show.

The set design and costumes were both well thought through, sound and lighting were good, no hiccoughs here. This was a well-balanced production which after 2 and a half years in gestation, and the vagaries thrown at it by Covid disruption gave Director Ellie Savill a show that was great fun to watch. Both she together with Musical Director John Stevens and Choreographers Amy Carter and Jenna Hawkins can be proud of ‘9 to 5 The Musical’.

 

© NODA CIO. All rights reserved.