Playing 3-4 May at the Newcastle High School for Girls, put on by the Newcastle University Musical Theatre Society (NUMTSoc), is 9 to 5: The Musical, a musical adaptation of the original movie 9 to 5.
This show follows three working women in an office run by an awful boss and their dreams to overtake his position. The comedy, paired with lyrics and music by Dolly Parton, creates a funny and upbeat show that will keep you tapping your foot.
I attended the closing show, and it was a packed theatre, filled with family, friends, and theatre-lovers, like me, excited to watch. The show started with, you guessed it, '9 to 5', but with some lyric changes, effectively set up the story. The show also includes a few revamped Dolly songs, such as 'I Just Might' and 'Backwoods Barbie'.
The plot itself was fairly simple, but it proved entertaining despite its basic woman power against a stereotypical sexist man, or as comically mentioned several times, "sexist, egotistical, lying, hypocritical bigot,” battle. The storyline also included a romance side plot, which seemed unnecessary and maybe even undermined the focus on the female characters’ power.
Where the storyline lacked, the actors made up for it
Thankfully, where the storyline lacked, the actors made up for it. A particular standout was Lexi Lott as Judy Bernly, receiving a long and deserved applause after 'Get Out and Stay Out'.
Additionally, as an American who lived in the South, I was impressed by Amira Appell as Doralee Rhodes, who pulled off a fantastic southern accent. She could have fooled me, honestly.
Lucy Grundy as Violet Newstead rounds out this power trio with her authoritative acting. Furthermore, the trio’s beautiful blend in their harmonies further emphasises the characters’ strengths when bonded together.
Additionally, Naomi Kelly as Roz Keith provides a sneaky comic relief throughout the show as they swoon over Franklin Hart Jr. and works against the three women.
Given the clear talent of this cast, I would love to see them perform a show with a more complex plot and message to allow the actors to fully shine.
This is NUMTSoc’s second year running, yet the audience would not know
This is NUMTSoc’s second year running, yet the audience would not know unless told. There are currently two theatre-related societies, Newcastle University Theatre (NUTS) and NUMTSoc, on campus, NUMTSoc focusing on musical theatre specifically, producing a showcase and musical each year.
Their presence on campus is a welcome addition to the university as NUMTSoc President, Max Derbyshire, notes in their playbill that “the arts are often overlooked in red brick institutions.” Furthermore, after two years, Derbyshire believes that the society has “grown into something truly special - a thriving, supportive community of talented, dedicated performers, creatives, and backstage powerhouses.”
While the members of the society benefit from their participation, in the playbill, Director Lucy Miles comments that she hopes that the audience also “leave tonight inspired as [she has] been.”
Overall, I enjoyed the show and am hopeful for the future of the NUMTSoc. See their NUSU page or follow them @numtsoc on Instagram to stay updated on their events.