BY IAN HARTE
The Stonehill Musical Theatre Club planned to make the best out of what was considered a flawed setting for their innovative rendition of the 1980 satirical classic “9 to 5,” opening Saturday night.
Ideally, the performance would take place in Alumni Hall, having optimal stage height, flexible lighting capabilities, and accessible reception and parking for the guests.
However, since that’s where the COVID testing center is now, the only other location with proper acoustics is the Martin Institute function hall.
“We don’t really have stage lighting, and the presets we have are not ideal,” Assistant Director Ethan Lescault said.
The crew may have to install additional lighting to the rafters, since the spotlights are not strong enough to illuminate the stage with the house lights off. The acoustics are good, according to crew members.
“We have a decent sound system, and the single level even makes it feel up-close and personal,” Lescault said.
“A smaller, one-level space has many challenges,” stage manager Hayden Kane said.
Junior Greg Beagan, who plays the “sexist, egotistical, lying, hypocritical bigot,” Mr. Hart, has experienced one of these challenges, finding that being so close to the audience affects his grandeur and comedic liberation.
“If you do any humor below the knee, no one will see it,” he said.
Sophomore Nicole Bagala plays Bob Enright; she worries that there will be no privacy for the actors even when they are off stage, since the only semblance of a backstage area is an open hallway directly behind the curtain.
“Everyone can see you unless you close these curtains,” she said.
Moreover, the actors have barely had any time to get accustomed to this environment.
“We’ve been practicing since November [2021], but we haven’t been able to do much with the play until recently, because we were just assigned this space,” Beagan said.
Kaitlyn DaCosta plays Jane Fonda’s character, the nervous, insecure Judy Bernly. She stays perfectly on key and, in her final number, hits just about the highest note imaginable.
“It’s a good feeling to challenge myself as an actor,” she said.
The show opens Saturday, February 19 at 7:00 p.m. and will run again on Sunday, February 20 at 2:00 p.m. Tickets will be for sale at the door for $5.
Photo courtesy of @stonehill_musical_theatre on Instagram.
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