SAOS's Sister Act Is Filled With Sparkling Harmonies

Cast of Sister Act. Photo: Paul Costello

Sister Act is a joyous production, filled with music and blistering comedy. It’s a challenge for any amateur theatre society to take on, yet to see such an accomplished production on stage at Stourbridge Town Hall was a real pleasure.

Stourbridge Amateur Operatic Society threw all of their talent into this show and it was abundantly clear from start to finish.

The production can be a casting nightmare for some societies, but they had a strong cast in place who shone through the night.

Taking on the leading role of Deloris Van Cartier with confidence and sass was Laura Wynter who really grew into the role as the show went on. The first night nerves were soon diminished as she strutted her stuff and soulfully sang through the challenging score.

Raise Your Voice and Take Me To Heaven are always the crowd pleasers, but this fine ensemble took it up a notch with sparkling harmonies that never faltered through the whole show. It is perhaps one of the strongest ensembles I have seen on the amateur theatre circuit, which is also down to the excellent Musical Director Jonathan Hill and Assistant Musical Director Ian Room.

Dawn Shillingford was utterly charming as Mother Superior, with an hilarious comic turn from Mark Horne as Monsignor O'Hara and Juliet O'Brien as hip-hop Sister Mary Lazarus.

Sister Mary Patrick and Sister Mary Robert, played by Anna Hough and Salli Gage respectively, delivered brilliant performances with Gage's powerful vocal resonating round the auditorium in The Life I Never Led.

Jonathan Hunt was an endearing Eddie Souther, as he tries in vain to hide Deloris from Curtis (played by Mitchell Bastable) and his gang.

Bastable's velvety vocals dazzled in When I Find My Baby and he played a sleazy gang leader a bit too well! The rest of his gang was made up of the fabulous trio of George Stuart (TJ), Will Phipps (Joey) and Adam Partridge (Pablo), each shining in their individual roles.

Plaudits to Mike Capri for his excellent directing and choreography making for a slick production that SAOS should be thoroughly proud of.

Congratulations one and all, it was Fabulous, Baby!