Sister Act

Sister Act, the musical, is based on the 1992 Whoopi Goldberg film comedy of the same name. It tells the story of Deloris Van Cartier an aspiring disco diva in the 1970’s. She witnesses her gangster boyfriend, Curtis, commit a murder and is put under protective custody in a convent whose parish has fallen on hard times and faces closure. At first this new ‘lifestyle’ isn’t what she is used to, but soon finds that working with the choir brings her friendships and a sisterhood that she has never known before. There are many musicals that to a great extent depend on having a lead that can carry the show. This is the case with Sister Act, as Deloris, who is the mainstay of the show, is rarely off-stage. Well, Dionne Reid definitely steps up to the plate! She was fabulous as she sashayed around the stage in the opening sequences and still maintained the characters feistiness even when in her nun’s habit. Her powerful singing voice was very much in evidence and her comic timing was first-rate. Yvonne Taylor was superb as the haughty and idealistic Mother Superior. Louise Curd was great as grumpy Sister Mary Lazarus but when the tables are turned and she becomes a ‘rapper’ she was hilarious. I thought Emma Woodyet was brilliant as Sister Mary Patrick. She was funny, captivating and bubbling with energy in her over enthusiasm for everything. A stand out performance, for me, came from Helen Perry as Sister Mary Robert. She truly captured the naivety and sweetness of the character but when she stood her ground and then sang ’The Life I Never Had’, it was just awesome, she has such an amazing singing voice. The chorus of nuns were delightful, their excellent singing and obvious exuberance in their many well delivered numbers was on display throughout. Playing the gangster boyfriend, Curtis, was Phil Stanley. His stature was ideally suited for this role as was his menacing demeanour. His three henchmen, TJ (Joe Millward), Joey (Cameron Trail) and Pablo (Rob Chilton) were an excellent trio. Their uproarious antics were sublime and the delivery of ‘Lady in the Long Black Dress’ with its cheesy dance routines and falsetto singing had everyone in stitches! Ben Jones was great as Eddie, the police officer in love with Deloris, his singing was just amazing and Keith Butcher was just ideal as the Irish cleric, Monsignor O’Hara. The costumes were splendid and the set was suitably fitting. There were a few issues with sound and at the performance I attended there was a problem with the strobe lighting which somewhat spoilt the effectiveness of the ‘chase scene’, but these things happen! I understand it was a total sell-out and if the audience reaction of cheers at the end of every number was anything to go by it was indeed a success in every way. Congratulations must go to Director - Phil Simcox, Musical Director - Maurice Fisher, Choreographer - Pauline Reader and to everyone involved in this massively enjoyable production. They certainly know how to ‘Raise their Voices’!

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