Sister Act

This show was full of spirit, harmony, strong numbers, exhausting choreography, funny yet poignant, flashing and strobe lighting, gunfire, loud noises off and special effects - in fact something for everyone and giving the company an opportunity to spread their wings in the Sinden Theatre. With action set in 1970s' Philadelphia, disco singer Deloris Van Cartier witnesses a murder, flees boyfriend Curtis’ Night Club, and is placed in protective custody – a convent.  Disguised as a nun and unused to the rigid lifestyle convent life entails she finds her musical talents can inspire the somewhat ‘off-key’ choir. Soon her work spills into the community, church funding rockets, the convent can be saved, and even the Pontiff is to visit, but with TV news coverage her disguise is blown - Curtis and his gang give chase bent on killing Deloris. With the power of her new-found sisterhood and even uptight Mother Superior, plus the help of devotee police officer ‘Sweaty’ Eddie there is a happy conclusion.

A bright, shiny A5 programme was created by stalwart John Sewell, containing extensive information, a very good NODA inclusion, forward events, rehearsal photo shots and head shots from Natalie Cheese, with Brian Fagg designing the poster and flyer. Very readable 

Complex singing harmonies were achieved by early hard work led by Director Heather, wearing her hat of Vocal Harmony Director, with the band under the direction of Steve Bowen. Numbers were executed with real passion and had the audience almost out of the seats at times – from the opening trio ‘Take Me To Heaven’ with Deloris, Samantha King being Michelle and Tina alternating Charlotte Maughan Jones and Fiona Murch in their saucy gold suits to ‘Sunday Morning Fever’. Then Mother Superior’s softer moments, with ‘Here Within These Walls’ sung beautifully by Heather Barnes, George Wheeler as Eddie with ‘I Could Be That Guy’ also a contrasting moment.  A most impressive solo ‘The Life I Never Led’ came from young Sister Mary Robert played by Chloe Swan. The comedy number hilarious - the trio from Joey played by Michael Fitzgerald, TJ – Simon Tomlinson and David Richardson as Pablo playing to the audience. Multi character parts kept Andy Clarke busy from Ernie the gangster - killed early on, cop, drag queen to altar boy master of the wheelchair with Colin Barnes officiating as Monsignor O’Hara. A good gangster character from Jez Druce. Named nuns produced convincing individual characters with interesting accents and quirks, but I must specially mention Coralie Hurst, Sister Mary Patrick for her maintained exuberance and humour.

Monika Green as Deloris Van Cartier was an inspiration – such passion, strength, easy movement, and sparkle came in abundance. 

Good balance from the five-piece band but I did find on opening the sound too acoustic and was struggling to hear lyrics. Noises off, tech effects well timed and the lighting beautiful – the laser coloured back projections looked excellent, coloured the stained-glass window, Eddie’s apartment, the nuns' cells with the shaped windows, The Queen of Angels Cathedral, carefully prepared and executed.  Pieces of suitable furniture for the various scenes including refectory pieces, juke box, cafe tables and chairs, the confessional all moved with precision. Using just basics worked very well indeed - the bed, the cell bars, settee etc., with the raised altar always central bearing a crucifix reminding us where we were. All this within the well-constructed three arches either side split by columns for perfect entry and exit.

Colourful ‘70s' costumes were perfect, including footwear and hair styling. With Kay Fitzgerald in charge of wardrobe and assistants, the cast were well turned out - the three sets of nuns’ costumes looked terrific, particularly the red hearts, with a spectacular sparkling finish, especially with Deloris in her white fox! 

Heather as Director, her dedicated talented cast, who moved sublimely with complex patterns set by Rachel Croft-Golding under dance captains Charlotte Maughan Jones and Victoria King together with stage crew certainly culminated a winner - a real ‘wow’ production.

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