Sister Act

This show should really have been over in the first ten minutes – the vocals from Emily Huddleston (Deloris) with backing singers Ashleigh Harrison (Michelle) and Tasha Barrett (Tina) were so strong that I am still struggling to understand why Curtis (Ian Fryer) didn’t sign them to perform as his club and get them a recording contract!  Deloris would then never have seen Curtis kill Ernie (Michael Madden) and so not been required to hide for a month with the Sisters in the Queen of Angels Convent.  However, the absolute joy was that Curtis clearly had no taste in music and that the show continued with the performances exceeding the very high bar set by this powerful opening number.

The calibre of individual performers is outstanding at Wakefield West Riding Theatre Company so the opening entrance by the nuns singing out of tune must have been as difficult for these accomplished  singers as some of the more demanding songs.  The scene was perfectly set by the ensemble who continued to work together brilliantly throughout the production.  Every nun seemed to bring her own persona to the table. Tracy Clifford was a funny, if out-of-it, Sister Mary Martin of Tours as was Donna Hargreaves as Sister Mary Theresa.  Belinda Lindley (Sister Mary Lazarus) most certainly deserved the applause from the audience for her energetic and pacey rapping and Monsignor O’Hara (Jonathan Cannon), with his Irish lilt, tried his best to keep Mother Superior happy as well as meeting the needs of the Diocese.

Rachel Hirst Marshall as Mother Superior demonstrated her strong vocals in ‘Here Within These Walls’ and ‘I Haven’t Got a Prayer’ – it was delightful to see the final comedic interactions between Marshall and Huddleston when they realised the mutual benefits of their coming together.  Claire Hookham Williams was an utterly joy loaded, bundle of positivity as Sister Mary Patrick, throwing herself into the role with passion and guiding the nuns to welcome Deloris to the sisterhood – her sales pitch on the reasons ‘It’s Good to be a Nun’ couldn’t fail to work.  Kati Gill played the role of Sister Mary Robert beautifully – she had just the right level of youthfulness coupled with piety to make the audience believe her role as the young postulant.  Some beautiful facial expressions from Gill along with a stunning rendition of ‘The Life I Never Led’. 

The wayward gangsters of the piece included Dan Fenwick as TJ, Adam Jones as Joey and Marcus Bagley-Hodkin as Pablo under the leadership of Ian Fryer as Curtis.  Fryer demonstrated his great skill as an actor as the tough ‘Godfather’ and the other three brought out the laughs.  And did the audience laugh?  Oh yes particularly at ‘Lady in the Long Black Dress’ which gave all three of them the opportunity to show off their physicality and hilarious individual characters.  Great performances from all the men on stage including David Hookham and Michael Madden in their cameos as Cop, Newscaster, Drag Queen and Ernie, Cab Driver respectively.

The audience was hugely invested in Sweaty Eddie (Nick Walton) as he tries to help the wayward Deloris having never overcome his High School Crush on the wannabe singer.  Fabulous characterisation from the very talented Walton who literally had the audience eating out of his hand particularly in ‘I Could be That Guy’ when he pulls off a brilliant onstage costume change twice.  Congratulations to the Costume Team behind this and the several other quick changes which were perfectly executed.

As Deloris, Emily Huddleston, was barely off stage and when she was on it she filled it with her amazing vocals and totally brought Deloris all the way from Philly to heat up a chilly night in Wakefield.   The role showed her aptitude for comedy and flair for timing – which is so important in this show.  A brilliant performance all round.

Choreography was excellent – not that easy when the majority of the cast are wearing unflattering, floor length habits, but the movement and composition was perfect.  Congratulations to Director / Choreographer Dee Bennie- Marshall on an uplifting, funny and very entertaining show which also really allowed the strong vocals of WWRTC to come through.  Musical Director, James Greatorex, and the live band should also be commended on their work.

Costumes were to a very high standard as was the set, which was moved with ease by the crew and cast.   Lighting and sound hit the mark and props were fitting for the scenes.

Wakefield West Riding Theatre Company have given Wakefield another triumph of a musical production and the Production Team, Cast and everyone involved in bringing this show to the stage should be congratulated.

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