Sister Act Jr

Sister Act Jr … a musical performed by the students from Formby High School, on Saturday, 25th November 2023 at Holy Trinity Church, Rosemary Lane, Formby.

OMG was there a better platform to ‘stage’ this musical than at ‘Holy Trinity Church’ … I don’t think so!  It was ‘big’, it was ‘holy’, it was ‘majestic’ and these young people made every inch of this platform work for them!   They ‘prayed’ at the altar, they ‘danced’ in the aisles, they ‘sang’, their ‘vocals and the harmonies’ filling every ‘nook and cranny’… every available inch of the church was used to its full potential producing some amazing results… to everyone involved… be very proud of what you helped achieve … ‘twas’ inspiring/awesome!!

Sister Act is an amazing feel-good comedy based on the smash hit movie of the same name starring Whoopie Goldberg and Maggie Smith.  Written by Alan Menken, with lyrics by Glenn Slater from the book by Bill and Cheri Steinkellner with additional material from Douglas Carter Beane, this musical is a story about two worlds colliding, neither expected to change, but through learning from each other, things can and do change!  It’s also about the ‘power of music’ and when these ‘sisters’ sing together you will want to join in and ‘RAISE YOUR VOICE’!  ‘Brace yourselves sisters’… this is a ‘twinkling tribute’ to the universal power of friendship and sisterhood and tells the hilarious story of Disco Diva Deloris Van Cartier whose life takes a surprising turn when she witnesses a murder!  Placed in protective custody, hidden in a place she won’t be found – a convent, disguised as a nun, under the watchful eye of Mother Superior, Deloris helps her fellow sisters find their voices as she unexpectedly rediscovers
her own…  a truly moving story!

The Production Team… I can only imagine the thought/work that went into the staging of this musical at ‘Holy Trinity’!  Not only did we have a ‘huge open stage area’, we had an impressive altar, a huge piped organ, an imposing stained-glass window as our backdrop… we had ‘aisles’ that where danced in, we had ‘walk-ways’ used as exit and entry points’… ‘no space was left unturned’ and credit for that had to go to our Directing/Choreographing/Musical Directing trio of Mrs Harrocks, Miss Llewellyn and Miss Dilworth.  As stated above ‘every available inch’ of the church was used to its full potential… it was impressive from start to finish!  The entrances, the exits were planned to perfection; the choreographed moves from start to finish played to the strengths of each and every dancer and made use of every available inch of space!  The vocals and the harmonies, from soloists to group/chorus numbers, just filled the entire space … I had the privilege to be at the final performance and witnessed speeches/testimonies and gifts presented by the cast to the three talented and respected teachers responsible for getting this musical to stage… from the words spoken and the tears that flowed… you could just ‘tell’, ‘feel’ and ‘see’ the respect, the admiration, the appreciation that these young people had for these three teachers … I know it’s their job… but the words spoken, the tears that flowed said far more about what these three teachers meant and had done for them, than just being their teachers… be ever so proud ladies for not only what you helped achieve tonight, but to what you’ve obviously already given to these students for the past couple of years!

The Cast…  this is where I usually ‘stick my neck out’ and start identifying MY favourite performances/characters, MY ‘showstealer’… but I find myself slightly stuck!  To start saying that ‘someone was better than someone else’, when you just know that this was ‘total team effort’ does seem wrong!  From the ‘off’ it was so obvious there was this ‘believable bond’ that ran through the entire cast… you could feel it… you could see that everyone was supporting each other…whilst having the time of their young lives!  But having said that, I really do feel it would be remiss of me not to give a few ‘shout outs’…  India Alston smashed the role of ‘Delores Van Cartier’ from the opening number ‘Take me to Heavan’ sung with her backing singers, to the finale…she gave us everything she had! India was a perfect fit for this part, great characterisation, wonderful singing voice, stage presence aplenty… be very proud India! Lana Jackson took on the role of the ‘old fashioned’, ‘unyielding’, ‘very strict’ … Mother Superior and what a job she made of it!  Impressive comedic timing, with facial expressions and mannerisms that just added that little extra… she made this role look far easier than it actually was… fabulous, flawless, another great voice…  be ever so proud Lana!  ‘Sweaty Eddie’ was played ever so well by Elliot Evans. The shy good cop and ‘love interest’ from school days and still to this day of Deloris.  Again, another great character created!  Elliot is another blessed with an amazing voice, loved his rendition of ‘I could be that Guy’ and the change of clothing routine… worked really well.  Be proud Elliot! Alexandra Cartmill took on the role of Monsignor O’Hara… the head priest at the Queen of Angels Church. Alexandra made this role her own… full of energy and enthusiasm, a semi comedic, loved the mannerisms and
the facial expressions… again well done, be proud!  Let’s not forget ‘THE NUNS’, how could you… I just loved, loved, loved every single one of them… they just ‘brought it’!  “What makes a good show great?” … the ‘chorus’…  especially a chorus of Nuns…  Energy, commitment, fabulous vocals, fabulous harmonies and the dance moves that used every inch of this vast arena… ‘NUNS’ included ‘Mary Robert’ played by Lilly Allen, ‘Mary Patrick’ played by Erin Ellis, Mary Flo played by Florence Raikes and ‘Mary Martin of Tours’ played by Sophie Walker (these four doubled up as Nina, Michelle, Elle and Tina respectively – Nightclub Back Singers).  We also had ‘Mary Stephen’ played by Elise Berger, ‘Mary Lazarus’ played by Magda Matejkova, ‘Mary Celeste’ played by Milly Johnson,
‘Mary Irene’ played by Ellie Mae Davies, ‘Mary Theresa’ played by Hannah McCormick and ‘Mary Izzy’ played by Isabelle Smith.  Ewan Harris played an ‘Altar Boy’.  Pheobe Brereton played gang leader ‘Curtis’, Libby Taylor played ‘Joey’, Harrison Ashe played ‘TJ’, Zach Harding played ‘Pablo’, Naomi Smith played ‘Ernie’, Ewan Harris played a ‘Cop’, Sophia Ashcroft played a ‘Newscaster’, and Lexi Bird played an ‘angry street person’. Be very proud everyone… great production!   

Set/Staging/Tech … think I’ve said it all about the staging… Holy Trinty Church just worked!
Lighting…  was basic, but worked well.  Sound… personal mikes did make so much difference! Big spaces needed to be filled and the ‘mikes’ helped achieve that and how… obviously cost implications, have to be considered, but money well spent I think… didn’t miss any of those amazing vocals and harmonies!   

Costumes… ‘fabulous’… supplied by ‘The Boyz Theatre Costumes Ltd.  The Nun’s, in their habits, looked amazing together…  well done Mrs Charnock (Wardrobe Mistress) for keeping an eye on the costumes!

My visit to see Sister Act was the final performance of the run and that final performance was a ‘significant step’ in the lives of some of the cast… it being their last production at Formby High having been together as a musical theatre group for the past three years!  Many ‘hugs’ were given and gallons of ‘tears’ flowed! There were some emotional testimonies spoken about and to the teachers after the finale by the leavers! I had the privilege and the pleasure to be invited backstage after the show to speak with them all!  Can I now take this opportunity on behalf of NODA and myself, to wish Lillian Allen, Alexandra Bird, Phoebe Brereton, Ellie-Mae Davies, Erin Ennis, Zachary Harding, Lana Jackson, Magdalenka Matejkova and Sophie Walker, all the best for their futures where ever that may take them and in whatever direction!  Be ever so proud of what you’ve achieved here at Formby High… there’s little or no doubt that being on stage as part of a cast, working together as a team, supporting each other are great attributes to take forward and use in your future lives!  Be proud of what you’ve achieved…especially the results from tonight!   

Thank you once again for inviting my wife and I we thoroughly enjoyed the production, and can’t wait until we meet up again!

Stay safe and keep well…
‘STRONGER TOGETHER’

Jim Briscoe
NODA North West
District 6 Rep

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