Entertaining show gets audience on feet
GREASEPAINT Productions took to the Loughborough Town Hall stage for the first time last Tuesday night, October 24, with Sister Act.
Based on the smash hit movie starring Whoopi Goldberg and Dame Maggie Smith, Sister Act tells the story of Deloris Van Cartier, a disco diva whose life takes a turn when she witnesses a murder.
Under protective custody, she is hidden in the one place she won’t be found - a convent.
Disguised as a nun and under the suspicious watch of Mother Superior, Deloris helps her fellow sisters find their voices.
Leading Greasepaint’s company as Deloris Van Cartier was Dawne B Stewart, who returned to perform with the group for the first time since 2009.
From the moment Dawne stepped on the stage she brought the big hair, the big attitude and even bigger vocals.
She smashed numbers such as Take Me to Heaven, Raise Your Voice, Bless Our Show and Sister Act and she oozed professionalism.
And Dawne did well not to be overshadowed by the many nuns that made composer Alan Menken’s harmonies sound heavenly.
The Sisters were, quite simply, brilliant. They were energetic, well-choreographed and their vocals in numbers such as Benedicta-ta for Now and Here Within These Walls gave me goosebumps.
This reporter adored Charlotte Bond’s giggly performance as Sister Mary Patrick and Alix Larter was very believable as the shy Sister Mary Roberts.
Stepping into Dame Maggie Smith’s shoes is no easy task, but Greasepaint had one of their stalwarts do just this; Linda Moulton.
Linda brought to life the stern, unsmiling Mother Superior and showed off what she was capable off in I Haven’t Got A Prayer.
Though the majority of the cast were female, the men had their part to play too.
Steve Duguid was perfectly cast as Deloris’ ex-boyfriend Curtis. He was the ultimate ‘bad boy’ - even in a very shiny red suit.
And Gareth Wynne was marvellous as Sweaty Eddie and shone in I Could Be That Guy. His singing voice is one you could listen to all day and not get bored of.
For this reporter, Sister Act was a little on the cheesy side and I didn’t laugh out loud an awful lot.
But props to James Highton, Scott Tomkins and Ollie Lewin - who played Curtis’ henchmen - as their rendition of Lady in the Long Black Dress was hilarious. A job very well done by all three of them.
Overall, despite a few teething issues and the occasional stumbling over lines, Sister Act was very entertaining and by the end of the night the majority of the audience seemed to be on their feet.
Director Shane Perry and Jeanette Patrick-Cooper did well choreographing the piece and musical director James Stevens and the band delivered on their front as well.
I think it’s only right to say a big well done to the set designers too as the stage looked excellent.