Sister Act

I have to admit that I was a little apprehensive when Garforth announced that their 2024 production was going to be 'Sister Act' - this blockbuster of a musical, based on the 1992 film starring Whoopi Goldberg as the would-be-star nightclub singer, but I was so pleased that any fears were brushed away by the exuberance and fortitude of this small group, tucked away in the suburbs of Leeds, as they gave this musical their very best shot. The venue they perform in has a very small stage and each evening the auditorium has to be cleared for daytime activities. The community spirit is palpable here - from the cast, backstage and front-of-house - everybody chips in to make their productions as top-notch as they can.

The Director for this production was Joanne Jackson, a talented actor in her own right, she managed to bring together her cast very well in presenting this much-loved musical. Val Johnston has also stepped over the footlights to be Musical Director - she led the cast with some excellent vocals and I am pleased to say, had decided to use backing tracks, which is allowed under the terms of the licence from the rightsholders. This helped the cast enormously by giving them confidence in their singing. This show makes great demands on everyone involved and they performed it wholeheartedly. Lynne Hill, as Choregrapher, gave the cast some simple but effective moves, which worked very well. The Producer was Rebecca Haigh.

The premise of the story involves a singer, Deloris Van Cartier, (played with spirit and good vocals, by Amelia Jackson), who unwittingly sees her gangster boyfriend Curtis (played by Richard Escolme) murder a fellow gangster. She rushes to the Police Department to report the crime and realises she went to High School with a police officer interesed in the case. Eddie, or Sweaty Eddie, as she remembers him (played with sincerity by Chris White), decides to place her under witness protection - and where better than a convent? The comedy for this musical is highlighted by Deloris having to become a nun instantly, with the help of the Mother Superior (played by the experienced Lynne Hill, with great charm) - this leads to a clash of personalities and subsequently, Deloris being asked to join the nun's choir. The other nuns are interested in the new sister, Mary Clarence - she realises the choir needs some urgent attention in its singing and agrees to take over. Two nuns, Sister Mary Robert (played so well by Rebecca Haigh) and Sister Mary Patrick (enthusiastically played by Emma Morton) are very taken with their new Sister - the choir becomes so popular singing at the services of the Queen of Angels Cathedral that Monsignor O'Hare (Keith Holt) declares that the propsed sale of the convent will not happen and the convent is saved.

There were some good comic performances - Curtis's sidekicks, TJ, Joey and Pablo (Ken Hill, Jonny Fallas and Keith Holt respectively), Sister Mary Lazarus (Doreen Escolme), Sister Mary Martin-of-Tours (Annette Roe), Sister Mary Theresa (Barbara Hawksworth). Deloris's singing friends Michelle (Annette Roe), Tina (Erin Ocsko) plus the poor murdered Ernie (a very brief appearrance by Richard Sharp!) - additional nuns were Catherine Kyle, Erin Ocsko, Charotte Stringer and Abbie Wright - all these performers worked so hard and were much appreciated by the audience!

The backstage crew, unseen but so important in supporting the actors was headed by Andrew Oxtoby; Lighting, Adam Holmes and Sound, Richard Sharp. A simple but functional set by Jemma Bennett, Mark Jackson and GMS cast. Wardrobe, Amelia Jackson, Make-up Erin Ocsko, Props, Tessa Cowles and Joanne Jackson as prompt. A warm welcome Front-of-House was headed by Phyllis Jackson and her team of lovely ladies - it makes for a pleasant evening's entertainment.

I could see that the cast were really enjoying themselves with this show - and the audience were with them all the way to the rip-roaring finale. And as for the ending.....Deloris might become a famous singer but she will keep a lasting friendship with the sisierhood - and she might marry Eddie!

My sincere congratulations to you all for an entertaining and fun evening.

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