Sister Act

Having such a strong female chorus this show was the perfect vehicle for this company and, despite a change of Musical Director about six weeks before the show due to ill health and some subsequent changes to the principals, they carried it off brilliantly. Kerry Russell was a vivacious Delores Van Cartier with a good singing voice and nice comic timing. Lynda Wood as the Mother Superior showed just the right amount of steely determination to protect her charges and compassion for Delores’s predicament – her renditions of “Here Within These Walls” and “I Haven’t Got A Prayer” were a delight. Trish Geddes as the excitable Sister Mary Patrick and Kirsty Gordon as the droll Sister Mary Lazarus both added much to the comedy of the piece. Rosanna Burton as the young postulant Sister Mary Robert portrayed the change from shyness to confidence extremely well and her rendition of “The Life I Never Lead” was greeted by silence and then rapturous applause from the almost full house audience. The men were not to be outdone. Iain McKenzie gave a strong performance as the gangster Curtis with a powerful rendition of “When I Find My Baby”. As his inept side-kicks TJ (John F Kennedy), Joey (Shaun Cowan) and Pablo (Derek Brown) were hilarious, especially in their version of “Lady In The Long Black Dress”. Andy Hurst as Detective “Sweaty” Eddie Souther had everyone rooting for him in his quest to win Delores’s affections. Strong support was given my Gerry Revie as Monsignor O’Hara. The company singing, especially in the closing numbers of Acts 1 and 2, was truly heavenly and uplifting. The sets were simple but effective as was the costuming. Well done to all at The Garrick Singers.

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