Angelique Calladonato, Staff Writer
Cedar Crest College’s production of 9-5 by Patricia Resnick with lyrics and music by Dolly Parton, puts a fantastic spin on the fast-paced unappreciated lifestyle of office workers. Although we all feel as if we could use a little more appreciation in the workplace, the ladies of this play, Violet Newstead, Doralee Rhodes, and Judy Bernly are living it rough with their maniacal sexist boss, Franklin Hart Jr. The three leading ladies of 9-5 deal with Hart, who is a boss that is out to control the actions of his employees no matter what. A night of fantasizing about his death eventually leads to the ladies keeping him tied up in his own house while they run his business, Consolidate. The ladies bring change, happiness, and lots of color to the workplace and despite many setbacks they eventually prevail and get Hart out of the way.
The cast of the show includes a wide variety of students, from first year dance major Eva Gonzalez, as Maria, to Jess Moody, as Margaret, a senior who’s debuting in her first Cedar Crest College production after working behind the scenes for the past three years. When asked why she chose to perform in her senior year, Moody explained that this was her last chance to perform before moving onto a full-time career as a technician.
Someone doing another role reversal, this time from actress to assistant technical director, is Haleigh Washburn, a senior math major. Washburn has performed in many Cedar Crest College productions, such as the most recent, Pressing the Flesh and Chicago. She has found the transition from onstage to backstage much easier than expected. Washburn said she came to fully appreciate the flow and movement of the show more than before.
Rebecca Pandone, a senior communications major, is playing the role of the buxom Southern belle, Doralee. When asked how she felt about following the footsteps of Dolly Parton she replied, “Overwhelming. All of the body modifications (boobs, butt, hair, etc.) really made me respect girls who look like this naturally and it made me love my body the way it is. It was a growing experience.”
9-5: the Musical is fun for the whole family with all the making of a good play—murder, music and men being put in their place. It has proven so popular that the Performing Arts Department has added another show. The production will be opening Thursday, Feb. 21, at 8:00 p.m. Following shows will be Feb. 22 at 8:00 p.m., Feb. 23 with a matinee at 1:00 p.m. and evening show at 8:00 p.m., and final matinee on Feb. 24 at 2:00 p.m.
Filed under: 2013, Arts, February 6, 2013
