Fatfield Musical Stage Society
Date: 19 February 2016
Venue: St.Robert of Newminster School
Type of Production: Musical
Producer / Director: Helen Abraham
Musical Director: Peter Forster
Choreographer: Helen Abraham
Review Author: Foster Johnson
When undertaking a show review I have to admit that there is an element of trepidation when one is asked to make a judgement when it involves a Society putting their own interpretation on a piece of work from an iconic legend of the music industry. So it was when I visited Fatfield M.S.S’s production of Dolly Parton’s 9 to 5
My fears were dispersed from the get-go as the first rollicking interpretation of 9 to 5 was delivered by the cast. This set the tone for the evening and the pace never slackened At the end the cast received a deserved standing ovation from a packed audience. Even those of what I would call the more traditional show audience captured the mood.
As I often comment to Societies every element of the show is important and any error will surely be picked up and that will be the topic of conversation no matter how good the rest of the production is. Therefore to ensure it does not happen everyone from the Director to the props team has to be on the ball. This show had that.
Once again the Society pinned its faith on Director Helen Abraham and Musical Director Peter Forster and they did not disappoint working their magic to deliver a happy and joyful show. Every element came together
As for the cast what to say! Starting with the ensemble for a change every one of them had their own individual character and portrayed them without a slip throughout the show. In addition, some were asked to contribute dialogue in support of the Principals and did so extremely well.
The Principal line up was first class too with Jeff Page as the dictatorial and womanising boss Franklin Hart Jnr, Sarah Alcock as the initially timid but eventually empowered Judy Bernly, Anne Taylor as the much-maligned office supervisor Violet Newstead and Stephanie Corbett as Doralee Rhodes (a.k.a Dolly Parton) playing their roles to perfection. They were more than ably supported by other Principals who themselves gave fine performances, with Claire Taylor as the besotted admirer /Secretary of Hart, Lee Passmore who is similarly in love with Violet and Oliver Cook as Dwayne.
Putting the rest in a nutshell and not to decry it the music and movement were good, the costumes were once again superb and reflected the period, the set was small but cleverly devised and the lighting and sound including the back projection and the appearance of Dolly Parton on screen herself capped the show-off.
