Sister Act

A trip to Church was on the cards as we joined WODS for their latest show, with the hit musical Sister Act hitting the Swan Theatre stage.  A packed house sat ready to worship the theatre Gods, and the performers did not disappoint, with a show full of energy and heart.

Sister Act – based on the Whoopi Goldberg movie of the same name – tells the story of club singer Deloris, who unwittingly witnesses her mobster boyfriend Curtis murdering one of his associates.  Fleeing to the Police (and old school-friend Eddie), she is quickly sent into hiding in a Convent, much to the chagrin of the Mother Superior.  But fish-out-of-water Deloris soon finds her place in transforming the previously hopeless choir into a tuneful ensemble, bringing about not only her own salvation but also that of the convent, the bad guys are sent on their way. 

Leila Thompson took hold of the role of Deloris with both hands and gave a very strong performance, with good characterisation, full of heart and strongly sung, both in the belting tunes like ‘Fabulous, Baby!’ and more introspective moments such as ‘Sister Act’.  This is one of those shows that hinges around a single lead, and Leila did not disappoint, taking us to Heaven, more than once!  Wendy Holloway’s Mother Superior was initially a stern presence, until even she fell under Deloris’s irresistible spell, in a convincing conversion.  As the harassed cop Eddie, Jordan Buckingham really showed the character’s earnest awkwardness, and developed a tender and convincing romance with Deloris.  His rendition of ‘I Could be That Guy’, well supported by the ensemble, was a highlight.

Good support was provided by Rosie Bond as the naïve Sister Mary Roberts, Laura Fullelove as the ebullient Sister Mary Patrick and Judy Hooper as rap-star Sister Mary Lazarus.  Alongside a large cast of nuns – many of whom were given nice little moments to shine – they made for a full-throated, tuneful and joyous ensemble.  Showstopping numbers such as ‘Sunday Morning Fever’ and ‘Raise Your Voice’ were delivered with passion and conviction.  I really liked the excellent movement in ‘Take Me to Heaven’ at the end of the first half, a gleeful explosion of fun which served as a great contrast to the nun’s earlier stillness – very well synchronised too!  

On the other side of the aisle, as it were, Andy Gilhooly was suitably menacing as gangster boss Curtis, making the most of the opportunities for both nastiness and humour that the song ‘When I Find My Baby’ provides.  More great comedy was provided by his hapless trio of sidekicks, Pablo (Aadil Din), Joey (Rob Connor) and TJ (Ethan Cook), who gave an excellent rendition of the very entertaining seduction song ‘Lady in the Long Black Dress’ and were good value throughout. 

Director/Choreographer double act Chris Hooper and Rachel Price were joined for the first time by Musical Director Laurence Nicholas, who has forged a strong reputation at Bromsgrove Operatic Society and the Norbury Theatre in Droitwich.  Together they formed a great team, with the staging, choreography and music all absolutely on point.  It’s no mean feat to keep such a large cast moving, and the attention to detail during the songs was excellent.  It was great to see the whole cast fully engaged throughout – no matter where they were positioned on stage (I checked!)

The set was provided by some really impressive stained glass-style panels, which really set the scene perfectly.  Some very good moveable staging was brought on (efficient work by the backstage team) to represent locations such as the police station and Eddie’s flat.  These really enhanced the show and gave a very professional feel – it was a bit of a pity then that there was no backdrop for the opening scene – set in a nightclub – which as a result seemed to be happening inside the convent.  Costumes were, as I have come to expect from WODS, absolutely superb.  I was amazed to read in the programme that these only account for 7% of the budget – costume co-ordinator Christina Humphries and the Wardrobe Team are working almost supernatural wonders somehow!

Congratulations to all at WODS on yet another high quality production.  As we romped to the feel good finish, a rousing hymn to sisterhood and community, and the capacity audience rose to its feet to sing and dance along, it really did seem that the theatrical community that has been built here is every bit as strong as the religious one being depicted on stage.  Well done, and I look forward to returning to the Swan in 2025, when the Dirty Rotten Scoundrels hits the stage!

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