Sister Act Jnr

NADMCS have finally been able to negotiate a new contract to hire the Alexandra so after a year away from their usual venue they returned for this year’s junior section show. One can always be assured of a great production from Newts whose reputation has grown apace in recent years, thanks largely to their wonderful leader Claire Holden, a past Newt herself. She is a powerhouse and not only has she been busy directing Newts and their other endeavours, but she has also been actively involved in the battle to save the Alexandra which was, for some time, threatened with being gutted and turned into a pub.

Sister Act holds special memories for me. I played Sweaty Eddie in the SW amateur premier of this show back in 2014 in Torquay, and then directed the adult section of Newton here at the Alex in this show in 2019. That turned out to be the last full adult musical at Newton to date due to Covid and then the troubles with hiring the venue.

In case you don’t know, briefly, the story follows nightclub singer Deloris Van Cartier who witnesses her gangster boyfriend commit murder and until she can testify against him in court, she is hidden away in a convent where she ends up changing things for the better. The Jnr version is similar to many other junior versions. I am not altogether sure what goes through the rights holders’ heads when they create these versions as most are hatchet jobs of the original full musical. This version shortens most of the musical numbers, cuts out some of the scenes including the Eddie and Deloris encounter in his flat, and the scene in the bar. I suppose the shorter running time is more suitable for younger performers.

Newts is full of talent, and this was gloriously on display in this production. Deloris is a grand standing role and this performer held the stage and the show in the palm of her hand. She had great vocals, and a good grasp of the role. She was well matched by the sardonic presence of Mother Superior. Mother Superior has some of the best asides in the show and these were well delivered. I am a great fan of the young actress who played Sister Mary Patrick, who has played leading roles elsewhere in my district. She really made this perky lively nun stand out. Sister Mary Robert, the postulant who begins to think she wants a different life, made the most of her big number The Life I never Led. Sister Mary Lazarus, the older choir mistress nun, made the most of her comic asides.

Curtis Jackson was played by a female in this production, and she gave a nice slightly threatening portrayal. Obviously, some of the violence is cut from the Jnr version and really the gangsters, Joey, Pablo and TJ provide the comedy element in the show. In the Jnr version their roles are reduced somewhat which was a shame as here we had three talented young men who worked well together. The Lady in the Long Black Dress was a show highlight.

Monsignor O’Hara is a lovely foil for Mother Superior, acting as the calming influence on her initial dislike of Deloris. This young actress portrayed this nicely.

In the adult version Eddie and Deloris clearly end up together, but the youth version waters this relationship down by cutting out the scene in his flat, so in this version Eddie is very much just the policeman whose duty it is to protect Deloris until she can testify. This young actor will definitely go places and gave a strong performance with great vocals for “I Could be that Guy” which is a difficult song. There was no magically changing costume here, but this was made up for by 4 dancers who dropped their daytime coats to reveal sparkling show girl costumes.

All the nuns worked well as a team and their group numbers were a joy to watch and listen to. They were well drilled and beautifully choreographed. The shows entire choreography was well planned and well drilled. The discipline from the cast was impressive and they didn’t put a foot wrong. Even the younger members were constantly in character. This group has the full age range from 7 years olds up to 17 years old, and the younger ones were cast as postulants in the Convent, altar boys and gang members. This worked well.

As with many youth versions, the music was to backing tracks but the cast had been well drilled and the vocals were pretty impressive. I assume they are able to rehearse to the same tracks so there was no hesitancy at all, and often underscoring to dialogue was also provided which must have been difficult to rehearse and keep to time.

The first night full house loved this production and so did I. I take my hat off to the entire team for producing such an impressive production.

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