On Sunday, November 13 theater productions wrapped up their fall production of 9 to 5, the 1980’s movie made musical. From a seven week rehearsal schedule to the final product of the five public showings, 9 to 5 differs largely from the previous year’s theater production with a witty plot line that shedded light on sexism in office jobs.

Battle’s theater began crafting the production at the end of September with a rigorous rehearsal schedule.

While the acting seemed effortlessly perfect to the audience, practice for 9 to 5 was one week shorter than for the 2015 musical. Isabel Fagre, who played the part of Violet Newstead and has acted in previous BHS shows, said, “Schedule wise, it was hard getting all the rehearsals in that we needed, and we just got the choreography learned before the show. We just didn’t have as much time as last year.”

Despite the shorter amount of preparation time and many new cast and technical crew members, the show was a success.

Fagre describes the feel of this year’s cast and directors: “I think we had a really good cast of people, and we had a really well organized show, even though we had less time than normal, it was a lot more organized because we got a new tech director too, and I think everyone was just really excited for it.”

Compared to past shows, many underclassmen scored important roles in the musical.

Fagre explained how cast’s age played a role in putting the show together: “Last year, we had a lot of seniors and juniors, but this year the cast was made up of mainly freshmen and sophomores. So that made a lot of difference because a lot of people were still learning how to do theater and how to incorporate the program.”

Heather Martin, a freshman student who attended the Sunday showing, commented, “Because the freshmen were new to the stage, they may not have had a lot of experience acting before. [The freshmen actors] brought their flaws but also their skills.”

9 to 5 revolves around the entrance of the naive Judy Bernly into the workforce after her husband left her for a younger woman. Within the warm welcome of Judy, she is quick to find out through her soon-to-be best friends Doralee Rhodes and Violet Newstead that the boss is sexist. Just as the play seems it could end, it takes a twist. Upon Violet’s return, she accidentally poisons Mr. Hart. Rushing to tell her co-workers, Mr. Hart’s love crazed assistant hears the entire story and tattles to the boss himself. After the trio goes investigating the death, Mr. Hart confronts them, informing them about his knowledge of their scheme. The three then kidnap him, the play then ends as Mr. Hart escapes, and the big CEO comes to congratulate him on his success. However, he is surprised as the success is contributed to the trio.

This year’s play dealt with the social inequality between men and women.

Rachel Godbey, an involved theater student, commented, “It really empowered the female actors at Battle, because I feel like most plays that are put on are really focused on the male lead. But I feel like for this one, it was a female-dominant cast. I thought that was really nice, and that it empowered women.”

Apart from inequity, many mature subjects were addressed, such as the topic of alcoholism and dirty humor. “I loved how it wasn’t really in your face humor, it was “dirty humora�� which made me laugh at time because it was funny, though in a way it wasn’t supposed to be funny,” Godbey said.

While the show was overall comedic, the music was very fitting to each individual scene. With a student based pit orchestra and talented singers throughout the cast, music made all the difference in affecting mood.

Audience member Martin explained, “I feel as though the sad songs really added to the feeling of hopelessness and the happy songs made the moments more triumphant.”

After the success of the fall musical, Battle’s theater department is eager to begin preparation for the next production, The Anatomy of Grey. Auditions have concluded and the cast list is posted in the A-wing.

We had our struggles along the way, but I think the fact that everyone was excited about it boosted morale. – Fagre