Sister Act

 And a very happy 50th birthday to the Company with a sell-out show and such a joyous occasion giving and showing happiness to all on stage and the packed audiences and the word round the town ensures support for the future.

Definitely an excellent choice for the birthday show: a large cast with 20 nuns plus the others, and including those younger extra acolytes in some numbers to ensure maximum participation.   Ben Francis had definitely recruited the ‘A’ team cast and worked them well at rehearsal in characterisation and great movement, and Jo Kemp is brilliant as MD both working with the cast and leading her very excellent group in the pit, such a good sound.

 Jill Graver and Tilly Baron as nightclub support Tina and Michelle had it all with dance flexibility and vocals and oozing sex-appeal in their support for the amazing Deloris.   In this role Victoria Perryman was superb, she had the voice and vocal style, the personality and mix of moods in her interactions with others in the cast, acting skills and dance movement, looks and the stage presence to dominate throughout in a great performance (not bad from the pantomime chorus at Christmas, this was her role!).

With 4 weeks from curtain at Cromer MIDag to opening FADLOS, in replacement for Mother Superior, Chrissie Robertson showed that with the right actress, vocal skills, drive and dedication, plus time and help from all concerned, it is possible to turn in an excellent portrayal with real character and empathy, particularly working so well with Doloris in their scenes, above all with the perfect projection and diction so we did not miss a word, really a performance to congratulate as most of the audience not aware of stand-in circumstances.

To the nuns and their big, big numbers: this group were the backbone of the show and they were fabulous in their song and slick dance numbers, and so many with their little characteristics to make it not a ‘cloned chorus’.   Loved seeing Avril Temple in her 50th year with the group as a founder member and playing an elderly nun with attitude.  They had such fun and huge energy and what superb harmonies throughout.   S.M.Patrick from Lucy Ferris was larger than life with comedy and personality and voice, and S.M.Lazarus from Paula Graver (with stick as prop) had the timing and comedy and tried hard to steal the show, these two nuns really had the cream parts and they did not let go for a second at the front of the stage and leading the huge chorus as they filled the space.   And in the younger role of S.M.Robert, Kara Field showed what is in store for the future of FADLOS, voice and acting and personality in full view, very good.

To the male gangster characters: a very strong Curtis from Michael Sylvester who was definitely in charge of his minions with a menace; the three, TJ from Alex Chidichimo, Pablo from Callum Brown, and Joey from Thomas Semmons all developed their specific traits with skill and timing to give the comedy touch, and the two numbers from them in the show had polish.   As Eddie, Ben Francis showed style in his interpretation with a very well -played slight underplay which suited the character well and showed the empathy needed in the role as he worked with Deloris, but vocally sound and personality plus as needed and a very nice performance.   And Peter Blakeley as Mon. O’Hara had the presence and dignity, yet the timing and twinkle needed in his relationships with Mother Superior, loved his slightly different from previous viewings interpretation, a strong performance.

Must congratulate the designers and craftsmen who made and painted this set to maximize the acting space on this unforgiving stage with no wing space, the atmosphere created was excellent with minimal change time adding to the slickness of the production (good lighting too).

But above all the audience had this amazing feel-good, joyous and filled with energy production to enjoy, great casting, singing and dance, and we did not want the show to finish which is exactly the way to celebrate 50 years of entertainment with FADLOS. And I wish you all well in the next 50 years.

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