Sister Act

May I start by making a confession I've never seen the film of Sister Act, the award-winning smash hit 1992 movie with Whoopi Goldberg. I have seen the musical, which, was such a success at the Palladium a few years back. It was a pleasure to witness this good, and joyful production. It's a great evening of song, dance, complete with a live band in the pit, superbly conducted by the young Henry Desmond only 20! I was amazed at his control of the band, he is assisted by Simon Pergande as Musical Director. What makes this Sister Act even better is that it's the work of a group of talented actors/performers far too many (47 in fact) to mention singly.

Sister Act, for those of you, like me, who have never seen the film, centre’s around a nightclub singer Deloris Van Cartier who witnesses a gangland killing and, for her own protection, is supposedly hidden by the police in a convent, disguised as a nun. Deloris takes the lacklustre, tuneless nuns' choir under her wing and transforms them into a boogying choir belting out disco like numbers. They become such a sensation even the Pope wants to see them!

Bruna Bonafe, new to Sevenoaks Players and her first time ever on stage in an acting role, gets the show well on its way from the start and continues to do so, looking fabulous in her portrayal of Deloris. Emma Diamond is outstanding both in acting and voice as the Mother Superior, initially against Deloris’s arrival but eventually won over by her. Emma was teamed with Nick Van Manen-Bower as Monsignor O’Hara. Mother Superior's nuns however, are a joy to behold as they bump and grind into their transformation and there are exceptional performances by the leading nuns amongst them, especially Liz Sharp as the excitable Sister Mary Patrick - great characterisation from Liz and sustained throughout, as did the grumpy, Sister Mary Lazarus (Anne Wood) who transforms into a baseball-capped rapper, and angelic postulant Sister Mary Robert (Olivia Piper) such a great voice from this young Lady. Steve Sadler, as police lieutenant Eddie, has a speedy change from uniform to disco and then back to his original police uniform. It is a remarkable piece of planning by the wardrobe department, led by Maureen Harrington and Mo Gurney - well done ladies for making this production so colourful and 70s style. Keith Harper is convincing with a great vocal range as gang boss Curtis, while his stupid sidekicks played by Will Desmond, Greg Shea and Alex Dunmore, almost stole the show with their funny and lively ‘Lady In the Long Black Dress’.

Scenery was minimalistic, lighting was good with great effects of the abbey. Stalwart Director Keith Neville and choreographer Tracey Weaver, along with everyone involved down to the program (which gave us all we wanted to know), should be immensely proud of what they have achieved. I could see all were happy and it shone over the footlights. This is a lovingly created show for all ages, and you all made the audience leave the theatre with smiles on their faces. I was one of those.

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