Sister Act

Team the incredible direction of Francine Harris, the choreography talents of Emma Hodge and Bethany Kember, and the musically talented Peter Bailey as MD with one of the funniest movies of the 1990s, and you have the perfect recipe for a musical.

Playing a worldly-wise Deloris, Carly Caller is brilliant, with a wonderfully powerful voice and energy to match. She leads this cast to great heights right from the opening songs: "I'm Fabulous Baby" and "Take Me to Heaven", perfectly backed vocally by Laura Dee and Amy Allen, in this stupendous, unmissable production of Sister Act.

Mother Superior Debbie Brennan steals the show with a wonderfully seasoned performance, strong, but softening in her songs “Here Within These Walls” and “I Haven’t got a Prayer” - a perfect Mother Superior. Milly Longhurst is demure and sweet as Sister Mary Robert, but then becomes the mouse which roars in Act 2. Her delivery of “The Life I Never Led” was just incredible: what a voice.

Rachel-Anne Crane-Herbert is in tune with her character, a lovable Sister Mary Patrick, and Jeni Boyns raps her way through "Sunday Morning Fever" in hilarious style - great!

There is good portrayal of Sweaty Eddie Souther, the cop who saves Deloris, whose comedic talents make his character both funny and appealing, while offering up some beautiful vocals during "I Could Be That Guy".  Whilst Lee Round offers a perfect portrayal of the shady gangster Curtis, surrounded by his grubby sleaze bags Lewis Mathews, Glenn Atkinson and Aaron Ramsden, who provide some of the funniest lines in the show as well as some of the campest, ridiculous, but hilarious 1970s' disco moments.

Everyone tried and coped with their American accents pretty well – plus as Monsignor O’Hara, Larry Davis sported a lovely soft Irish brogue - great job from Larry.

Sister Mary Theresa must have a line in this review of her own: very well done Jeanette Davis. Not easy to stay doubled in half for two hours.

And then there were nuns!!! Amy Allen, Megan Chapman, Laura Dee, Nicole Gillespie, Rebecca Lehmann, Laura Ng, Tonia Plowmen, Chole Smith, Kaitlin Smith, Marianna Allen, Rachel Tanner - awesome and winsome all of them. Varying in style, as any convent would be, they delight us with perfect harmonies and with their transformation from hopelessly singing in mass to a blend of high-energy disco, funk and jazz.

Supporting male roles played by Chas Alder, John Endicott, Richard Farrow and Gerald Flanagan, adding their maturity and experience to these valued roles.

The costumes are sparkling, with lots of changes - a busy wardrobe for Jo Kember and Julie Smith, spot-on lighting (whoever you are) and then there was an excellent orchestra, conducted by Peter Bailey, with Paul Gosling, David Johnathon, Owen McColgan, Mike Judson, Paul Williams, Kevin Ashman, Gary Rossiter, Roy Drinkwater, Rob Ferguson, Kim James, Simon Whiting and Mark Andrew,  and slick 1970s' period choreography. Set changes were a little labored at times (black outs), but that’s my little gripe.

Francine Harris you have done it once again for GDS you worked your cast to a very high standard and they have come up trumps for you……….Well Done. I defy anyone not to come out of the theatre singing "I’m Fabulous Baby” and dancing on air after this ecclesiastical experience, because it’s simply divine! But remember, this is my opinion only.

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