Sister Act

Dinnington AOS had them rocking in the “pews” this week when they performed Sister Act at The Lyric Theatre.

It was a somewhat slow start to the show, partly due to the show itself but also partly due to the lack of scenery or backcloth which may have lifted it slightly. However, once we entered the Convent and Mother Superior played very convincingly by Louise Seldon, and her fellow Nuns entered the action really stepped up several notches.

As we all know Deloris Van Cartier witnesses a murder and has to be kept safe, the police officer in charge Eddie Souther decides the safest place is in a Convent!

Deloris was played to the full by Karen Osman, belting out the songs both alone and with the Nuns in the Convent. Deloris gets along famously with her fellow Nuns with the exception of Mother Superior; however we were treated to some excellent duets from these two such as Here Within These Walls which the audience loved.

Mother Superior also had another great song in Act Two I Haven’t Got a Payer which again Louise was able to show off her talents.

I mentioned earlier Eddie Souther who was played expertly by Kris Denman, his number Fabulous Baby was loved by everyone in the audience.

There was some great character acting from the “Nuns” and I especially enjoyed the performances of Samantha Smedley as the effervescent Sister Mary Patrick and Fiona Mikulik as Sister Mary Lazarus who “growled” her way through the show much to the delight of the entire audience. Gail Cobb was perfect as the senile, somewhat dipso Sister Mary Martin of Tours who managed to sleep her way through the show with the exception of when she awoke to deliver the verses from the Bible.

A new member to DOS but not the stage was Natasha Simpson as the young postulant Sister Mary Robert who blossomed more and more as the show progressed. Natasha has a beautiful voice and was able to put it to good use when she sang The Life I Never Led; this was very emotional and was met by rapturous applause from the audience which was well deserved.

As with all shows there were gangsters in this show who to say they were a little simple would be an understatement with the exception of their boss Curtis played convincingly by John Green, his three goons Pablo, Joey and TJ played by Mark Maltby, Mark Wareing and Sam Bates were equally as good and their rendition of Lady in the Long Black Dress was hilarious and loved by everyone.

Heading up the Ecclesiastical group was Steve Ball as Monsignor O’Hara who although only made fleeting entrances on the stage certainly made his presence felt with his quips and remarks.

There are some big production numbers in this show all of which were a delight to watch and listen to.

Ashley Booker, Jonathan Wilby and Jacqui Turner must be very proud of themselves and so they should be, many congratulations to all involved.

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