by P.N. Grant
It’s always a treat for everyone when Mr. Lynch and Mr. Terrell lasso 50 head or so of full-blooded Woodbridge High School students and set them out on the boards to perform another musical. This time they went a little country and revived a great movie of a generation ago with Dolly Parton’s 9 to 5. Yeehaw!
Of course it always helps to have some talent at their disposal. This year the accent was on Girl Power as the script called for a group of gals to overcome dismal working conditions and push a devious revolt through to victory over the office cattle boss. As Dolly narrates to start the show, she reminds us the story takes place before the women’s movement, and as we find later cell phones, computers or even “clappers”! This workplace seems like a training camp for discrimination lawyers rather than just a job.
Anthony LoGrande plays the lustful, loony, and oh so sexist Mr. Hart who serves as the stray the ladies must rein in. Not above accommodating a wife with empty promises, he borrows a new girl’s scarf to give to his…”mistress”. Ooooh. This will not end well for the randy rough rider. Mia Reiser shows off her acting chops as the innocent Judy, but has to be the shows best singer. With a couple of perfect solos she projects great range on the stage, even while dancing in the “dream scene.” Mia’s a senior and will be missed.
Acting is what Daniela Campos does. 9 to 5 seems just a comedy in film, but on stage the actors have to ply a whole range of emotions, and to see Daniela handle them all is quite amazing for a high school girl. From the confusion of the coffee with the rat poison for the boss, to the “Potion Notion” number, then a soft moment with Joe (Joe Shaw), and the final victory scene, she dominates the script. This play may not have been in her wheelhouse, but that’s when the veteran skills take over. She’ll do well at the next level of drama wherever she goes.
The MVP though goes to Cece Resto, who not only mastered the twang of Dolly Parton, (great job with “Backwoods Barbie”) but the fretting and strutting her hour on the stage appeared flawless. How she evolved from the boy toy to the union organizer took some work. A fine all around entertainer, she’s going far, as evidenced by her resume that includes work at Lincoln Center, Carnegie Hall and even Red Bank.
Let’s not forget Luis Aguilera who created more than a foil for the vengeful vixens. Singer, dancer, actor too. Dancer? Whaaaaaaaat? Were they actually all tapping all across the stage at one point? Sam Ferrante, I thought, showed the way with her moves, but the whole cast must have worked out on the Lower 40 long past sunset at the bunkhouse (Sam Tirone-choreographer).
The orchestra shined with Mr. Kohn. They oozed great chops and accompaniment for each scene. Even Mr. Hoyer. The costume changes were numerous and must have taken great coordination behind the scenes, Ms. Resto in charge. Speaking of behind the scenes, where did the stage crew come up with a huge tube tv? You’re gonna scare somebody with that thing. Along with new erasure tape on the typewriters, setting up the new answering machine and innovative jargon, (“24/7, what does that mean?” “I don’t know. I just made it up”), the story broke new ground at the time of the movie. What’s not new ground is the job that Terrell and Lynch do. Year in and year out, these two herd kids into dedicating a large part of already active lives, to sweat out another gem.
These WHS students didn’t just work 9 – 5 to produce this hit musical. It was much more than that. The seniors showed what it takes, but what’s really cool is the number of underclassmen who realize that a lot of work produces a lot of success. Cowboy hats off to all those who worked so hard for my Sunday afternoon.
Grant Rant: When it comes to theatre arts, too many districts around the country target drama, voice and band activities, to balance budgets. More educational bean counters need to see the value of productions like this one, and add to the stage dollars even more.
