Sister Act

From before the first note was struck the audience/congregation were fully immersed in this fabulous show.  Seated in the pews with the imposing stained-glass window over the alter little had been done to change the ‘set’ of the Parish Church.  Some rigging had been added to allow lighting and sound and platforms to give variance in height.  Before the opening the Sisters of The Queen of Angles were milling around the church allowing everyone to get a sense of what was to come with traditional exits and entrances ignored and the cast energetically entering from all around the venue throughout the production.  This along with the lack of need for change of scenery ensured that the pace was fast barely giving the cast time for a breath between each scene. 

The fabulous vocals of Helen Burton (Deloris Van Cartier) backed by Charlotte Bamforth and Emma Smith as Tina and Michelle, transported us to Philadelphia where Deloris is trying to convince her boyfriend, the gangster Curtis Jackson to let her sing at his club.   Graeme Hemingway played Jackson as the ‘mean and moody type’, but it was clear that one word from him and his slightly hapless entourage will step up the action.  Great vocals and confident moves from Hemingway.  

When the brutal murder of Ernie (Richard Corbett) is witnessed by Van Cartier a whole series of events are triggered that led to this wannabe club singer going into hiding with the Sisters of The Queen of Angels.  And what great Sisters they were.  Every nun had developed her own quirky character.  Grace Hawkes was a funny, if completely out-of-it, Sister Mary Martin -of-Tours along with Pauline Hirons as the decrepit Sister Mary Theresa.  Michelle Bates was hilarious as Sister Mary Lazarus with her initial despondent reaction to the changes in the choir,  but then transformed into an energetic and pacey rapper as she develops her love for the choirs new play list and the reactions it evokes.  James Creegan as Monsignor O’Hara had a gentle Irish lilt and tried his best to keep Mother Superior happy whilst fighting off the financial challenges imposed by the Diocese.

Angela Fisher as Mother Superior demonstrated her strong vocals in ‘Here Within These Walls’ and ‘I Haven’t Got a Prayer’, but Fisher was also a master at giving just the right level of consternation in her fabulous facial expressions – she absolutely owned this role and gave a very commanding performance. 

Abbie Lloyd was delightful as the bundle of positivity that is Sister Mary Patrick.  Lloyd was as bubbly and vivacious as it is possible to be dressed in a nun’s habit and she played the role with passion and enthusiasm never once coming out of character as she encouraged the nuns to accept Deloris into the sisterhood.   Genevieve Shaw was captivating as Sister Mary Robert, she totally captured the naivety and piety of this young postulant as she approaches the Holy Orders, but still reflecting on ‘The Life I Never Led’.    Shaw has fabulous vocals and developed a wonderfully believable character which was maintained throughout – a very impressive performance.

The wayward gangsters in Jacksons gang included Liam Nichol as TJ, Dean Patrick as Joey and Joe Smith as Pablo.   Nichol was a very late addition to the cast having had only four days from first rehearsal with the Company to opening night.   As the role of Joey was taken by the shows Director and Producer it was a huge challenge for these three actors to develop their scenes and character relationships, but they did a great job.  It would have been a bonus to see them ‘strut their stuff’ in the iconic ‘Lady in the Long Black Dress’, but the vocals alone were strong.  Well done to the very versatile Adam Rae who, reflecting the limited male cast members, played the cameos as Newscaster, Drag Queen and Cop.

Dan Lord was cop Sweaty Eddie and gave a touching performance as he tried to help the wayward Deloris having never overcome his High School crush on the wannabe singer.  The audience loved ‘I Could be That Guy’ and Lord confidently managed the onstage costume change twice.  A great performance from Lord.   And the final cast plaudits must go to Helen Burton as Deloris.  She was barely away from the performance space and with limited ‘back stage’ areas Burton managed her costume changes to perfection and her amazing vocals, great comic time, strong acting and period wig really ensured that the atmosphere of downtown Philadelphia was most definitely present in a parish church in Lindley.

Lighting and sound hit the mark with props being creatively used in this very different setting.  It would have been fabulous to see ‘a mirror ball over the apse’, but overall the rig worked very well.   In the club scene it did feel sparse with just the gangsters and nuns present so difficult to imagine that Deloris wasn’t spotted immediately.  However, that is a small thing in a very impressive production.

Choreography by Christina Jagger was good with all the nuns moving in time and using the whole space to ensure the audience felt part of the production.  Musical Director, John Turnbull, should absolutely be commended on his work as the brilliant vocals of the cast really hit the roof of this fabulous venue and congratulations to Director Dean Patrick on a feel good, uplifting and entertaining show which used the space in a creative and imaginative way to bring this Divine Musical to West Yorkshire.  A huge well done to the cast and crew who took us to heaven and most definitely spread the love all around – it was impossible to not leave the church smiling.   

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