Sister Act

This is a show with a real ‘feel good factor’, popular with both companies and audiences; it has a strong story line and plenty of up beat music. The evening started well with the appearance of Monsignor O’Hara making the ‘house keeping’ announcement; then followed ‘church’ music underscoring Mother Superior’s voice in prayer, setting the background story of the declining fortunes of the convent, then straight into the lively ‘Take Me To Heaven’ from Deloris and her backing singers, an excellent opening.

This show requires several swift and complicated scene changes, which the stage crew handled efficiently. The scenery from UK Productions with additional items from BLOC Productions worked very well, with the decorative order of the Cathedral improving with the fortunes of the Convent.

Lighting was well designed and operated giving good contrast between the various locations. I liked the lighting for ‘Fabulous Baby’. The glitter balls made a nice effect when the nuns were catching ‘angels’; and the lighting changes in Eddie’s song ‘I Could Be That Guy’ were interesting. Sound effects were appropriate and mostly well cued.

The show had been well costumed, with those of the nuns and Father O’Hara becoming more ‘glitzy’ as the show progressed, with everyone wearing appropriate footwear.  Eddie’s quick changes in ‘I Could Be That Man’ were very well done.

The orchestra were obviously enjoying the music for this show; unfortunately they were occasionally too enthusiastic and drowned out the singers. Musical Director Malcolm Webb kept musicians and singers together, mostly everything was well sung. The role of Deloris is vocally challenging, as she has so many musical numbers and the style of singing is different to most other roles. This Deloris was always in control and brought the right level of sincerity to the later numbers. Mother Superior, Sister Mary Robert and the other Nuns sang their solos well, with Mother Superior and Sister Mary Robert portraying their confusion at having their lives turned upside down. Curtis’s diction was excellent in his rendition of “When I Find My Baby’, it sounded like a love song, until you listened to the words. Sweaty Eddie sang ‘I Could Be That Guy’ with feeling.  Joey, Pablo and TJ brought much humour to ‘Lady In The Long Black Dress’. There were lovely harmonies in all the ensemble numbers.

The choreography for this show does not require a lot of complicated steps and high kicks, but it does require a great deal of movement, with a high level of energy and enthusiasm with everyone completely in time with the music and each other, with so many nuns that is not easy. There is also the added complication of the nuns habits which are heavy and hide movement. Choreographer Gemma Short devised high-energy routines, which were well synchronised for the nuns; with sexy routines for Deloris and high energy and fun numbers for the ‘boys’.

Director Russell Langdown had created a genuinely ‘feel good’ show, helping his cast to develop well rounded characters. They brought out the humour, frustrations, unrequited love, and poignancy of the story. Full use was made of the set on this large stage, which helped create the atmosphere of the Cathedral. The nuns were a believable ‘sisterhood’ with excellent interaction and responses to the situation. The nun’s reactions when they first realised they could really sing was lovely. The show is reliant on the character of Deloris and she did not disappoint; inevitably some of the roles are larger than others, but there was a genuine feeling that each person on stage was equally important and had entered into the spirit of the show with relish and enthusiasm. Well done everyone on an excellent evenings entertainment.

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