“Sister Act” by Spotlight Theatre Company

Nottingham Playhouse

“Sister Act” is the feel-good musical smash based on the hit 1992 film Featuring original music by Tony, and eight-time Oscar winner, Alan Menken (Newsies, Beauty and the Beast, Little Shop of Horrors), this uplifting musical was nominated for five Tony Awards, including Best Musical.

When disco diva, Deloris Van Cartier, witnesses a murder, she is put in protective custody in the one place the cops are sure she won't be a found: a convent! Disguised as a nun, she finds herself at odds with both the rigid lifestyle and uptight Mother Superior. Using her unique disco moves and singing talent to inspire the choir, Deloris breathes new life into the church and community but, in doing so, blows her cover. Soon, the gang is giving chase, only to find them up against Deloris and the power of her newly found sisterhood.

Filled with wonderful music, outrageous dancing, “Sister Act” leaves you feeling euphoric. I left the theatre feeling like I'd been plugged in to a charger for the last two hours, practically skipping to the bus stop, I felt so energised by this production

Grace Hodgett-Young (Deloris), well what can I say? I could just say "WOW" but why say one word when a hundred would suffice. I can remember seeing Grace a few years ago on the Nottingham Arts Theatre stage and loving her confidence and her voice. Skip forward a few years and here she is blowing the roof off the Playhouse with that incredible voice she has. Grace has swag and attitude and this part fitted her so well, and that applause she received on her final bows rose by decibels, and she deserved every single second. And can I also say that she looked fabulous in those wonderful costumes.

Lizzie Fenner (Mother Superior) swaps one powerful woman (last week as Roxie Hart in "Chicago") for another woman with power. Lizzie channelled her inner Julie Andrews for the clipped and oh so proper accent, and her voice is just so clear and controlled, And that worked so well in the song "I Haven't Got A Prayer" because you heard every word and every comical line in that song it really is heavenly.

Holly Neil (Sister Mary Robert) is another woman with an incredible voice. Sister Mary Roberts big song, and I do mean BIG, is "The Life I Never Led" and she gave me goosebumps with the high notes in there. It was not the only time Holly gave me goosebumps with her singing in this show. Her powerful vocals soared.

Laura Thurman (Sister Mary Patrick) oozes fun with this role, again perfectly cast, and once again a powerful voice with an infectious smile.

Kimberley Allsopp (Sister Mary Lazarus), so full of mischief and fun, so who else would be playing this role? Only Kimberley.

Mike Pearson (Monsignor O'Hara). Normally I see Mike on stage in a frock, so this is a slight departure, and it's great to see Mike in such a lovely role. O' Hara's facial expressions when the Nun's choir emerge after Deloris has been working with them was a joy to behold.

Adam Collishaw (Curtis) is the baddie of the show, and he looks the part. Tall and imposing, you would not like to meet Adam, as Curtis naturally, in a dark alley!

I love the trio of henchmen who work for Curtis, Ray Samuel Mcleod (TJ) is great fun to watch - nice to see he stole some of my dance moves. Liam Arthur Petruccio-Hall (Joey) and Patrick McChrystal received a massive round of applause with their song "Lady In The Long Black Dress", which is one of my favourite songs from this show

Stan Cook (Eddie), who I last saw as Romeo in "Romeo & Juliet", channels a bit of a romeo in this role as well. I loved his main song "I Could Be That Guy", and the staging of this number was done really well with the costume changes. I won't spoil it for you if you plan to see the show on Saturday, but it's different to how I've seen it done in the past. Stan has an old school voice and suits this song well, and it's always good to see a character go from zero to hero and get the girl at the end.

I feel that I need to mention all of the ensemble and others individually so here goes; Harriet Hopkins (Sister Mary Martin of Tours), Laura Ellis (Sister Mary Teresa), Ellie Monterosso (Michelle), Beth Wear (Tina), Daisy Donoghue, Charlie Evans, Lucy Greig, Emma Gregory, Erin Hanby, Maddie Keown, Madelyn Pritchard, Lily Proudlove, Rachel Smith, Kemi Stewart, Zoe Turton, Tilly Wishart, Louis Barnes-cupit, Jonah Williams and Joseph Smith - who gets to play an altar boy, a policeman as well as a drag queen - I'm so impressed with his walking in those heels!

Directed by Matthew John and this is his first musical theatre piece he has directed; can I just say that this man can do anything he puts his mind to as this was a roaring success; that's all I need to say as it's well documented in past reviews just how high esteem I hold Matt. The legend that is Amanda Hall is producer for this show.

Sophie Petruccio-Hall also debuts as choreographer. Again Spotlight shows what an incredibly talented group of people they have. The choreography was spot on and very exciting to see this mass of people carrying out the dream of the choreographer. They made me want to dance.

Geoff Burnhill is Musical Director for this show and I love the soundtrack, and hearing this wonderful soundtrack by Alan Menkin and Glenn Slater played live, with such punch and clarity is all down to the Musical Director's hard work with the cast and his band.

Lighting Design is by Tom Mowat, so the lighting is guaranteed to be the best quality, which it is. Rob Kettridge is responsible for the Sound Design, again guaranteed to be crystal clear, which it was as I could hear every single word of this show.

There are many set changes in this show and the stage managers did a sterling job at getting all the bits and bobs on and off unobtrusively.

I've been very lucky lately to have been able to see several local theatre shows that have been on a par with any touring professional show. This is another one of them.

I sat in my seat with a fixed smile on my face all the way through, because that is what this show makes you do, smile! The story of belief in yourself and others and friendship makes you feel all warm inside, as if you're in an Andrex ad, but without the Labradors.

I made sure that I was first to my feet at the end and my lead was very quickly followed by every single person in that theatre. An audience who showed their appreciation of the talent on stage continuously throughout the evening.

I've had the pleasure of reviewing Spotlight shows for a few years now and every show is of an increasingly excellent standard. Forget the bar to be raised, Spotlight have bypassed that and left it behind and productions like this are of the standard that all local theatres should match or aim for.

As the prophet Hozier once said "Take Me To Church" because these sisters really rock!

Spotlight Theatre Company - "Sister Act"

Nottingham Playhouse. 13th July 2019

Director: Matt Wesson.

Choreographer: Sophie Petruccio-Hall. Musical

Director: Geoff Burnhill.

Producer: Amanda Hall

WOW and WOW again! What a simply fantastic show. From the opening scene when we met "Deloris Van Cartier" - played superbly by 17 year old Grace Hodgett-Young. What a terrific performer this young lady is. She was so well supported by Lizzie Fenner as Mother Superior . All of the "Sisters" had their own characters and came over brilliantly throughout

the show. The gentlemen made the most of their roles - not always easy in a show like "Sister Act". Special mention to Stan Cook as "Eddie" - not an easy part but he was just great - one of the best "Eddie's" I have seen.

The singing throughout was superb as was the dancing - especially with those quick-changes to glam and glitz! It is not possible to mention everyone in the cast but you were all terrific.

The orchestra was just brilliant thanks to your M.D. Geoff Burnill. The stage crew worked so well throughout with so many quick changes of sets between scenes. I have always enjoyed "Sister Act" and this one was so refreshing with many of the cast in their late teens and everyone on stage obviously enjoying themselves as were the audience.

Congratulations to your director Matt Wesson and choreographer Sophie Petruccio-Hall - they must be so proud of you all. Thank you for

inviting me and for your hospitality.

Nanette Lovell NODA East Midlands Councillor.

Sister Act - Spotlight Theatre Company - Nottingham Playhouse - July 12th 2019

Based on the film starring Whoopi Goldberg and Maggie Smith, Sister Act is a zany, joyful musical comedy in which two very different worlds collide!

When nightclub diva Deloris Van Cartier witnesses a crime, the cops hide her in the last place anyone would think to look – a convent! Renamed ‘Sister Mary Clarence’, Deloris faces the fearsome Mother Superior – and the excruciating nuns’ choir. But she inspires her fellow sisters to find their voices - with a lot of sparkle and pizazz!

Tonight at Nottingham Playhouse, Spotlight theatre had sparkle and pizazz in abundance and delighted a full theatre with excellent singing, dancing, and comedy, plus a heartwarming story, well told. Directed by accomplished local actor Matt Wesson, in his first directorial role, this production was high spirited, fast moving and thoroughly entertaining. A huge success.

There was an excellent principal cast led by Grace Hodgett-Young as Deloris. She is the whole package: she has an incredible voice and is a gifted actor. Her accent, diction and comic timing were spot on and the warmth and personality of her Deloris lit up the stage. This super, sassy and wholly engaging performance wowed the audience from the start. She was also the perfect foil to Lizzie Fenner, who played the Mother Superior.

I last saw Lizzie a week before as a very impressive Roxie in ‘Chicago’. Quite hard to believe that this was the same person, from one wonderful characterisation to another, completely different one! Chanelling the prim sternness and stiffness of a young Margaret Thatcher, plus some beautifully observed pithy comments and lovely singing, Lizzie nailed the part.

They were very well supported by Holly Neil as Sister Mary Robert, the enthusiastic but naive postulant- who has a moment of self revelation in the wonderful ‘The Life I Never Led’- and wow, what a voice Holly has.

Two other great performers were Laura Thurman as the warm and highly amusing Sister Mary Patrick and Kimberley Allsopp as the deadpan but lively Sister Mary Lazarus. Both sparkled on stage in their respective roles.

Mike Pearson was engaging as the often manic Priest, Monsignor O'Hara. Another beautifully delivered part with the perfect timing and diction that ensures absolutely nothing is lost.

Adam Collishaw as the nightclub boss Curtis, acted the part with just the right amount of nasty swagger and gave a heartfelt rendition of ‘When I Find my Baby’.

Ray Samuel McLeod as TJ, Liam Petruccio-Hall as Joey and Patrick McChrystal as Pablo, provided one of the highlights of the night for me when they explained their various methods of seduction in the hilarious song “Lady in the Long Black Dress.” Three lovely and very well delivered character roles, that must have been as much fun to play as they were to watch.

Stan Cook, as Eddie the policeman, quickly became a favourite of the audience with his earnest quest to acquire both the courage to wield a gun and to woo Deloris. A nice character portrayal and lovely delivery of the song ‘I Could Be That Guy’.

The supporting ensemble comprised of, in the main, a wonderful group of young nuns, whose infectious antics are impossible to resist throughout. They become joyous- after Deloris teaches them how to sing gospel- and they sounded magnificent. Well done to the director and choreographer for careful placement of this large ensemble that ensured an attractive tableau.

They were Harriet Hopkins (Sister Mary Martin of Tours), Laura Ellis (Sister Mary Teresa),Ellie Monterosso (Michelle), Beth Wear (Tina), Daisy Donoghue, Charlie Evans, Lucy Greig, Emma Gregory, Erin Hanby, Maddie Keown, Madelyn Pritchard, Lily Proudlove, Rachel Smith, Kemi Stewart, Zoe Turton, Tilly Wishart, plus Louis Barnes-Cupit, Jonah Williams, and Joseph Smith.

The dancing was very well choreographed by Sophie Petruccio-Hall. It was both exciting and precise and perfectly complemented some of comic set pieces, such as in the rhythmic routines with Curtis and his henchmen.

The band sounded very good under the baton of Musical Director Geoff Burnhill. Such a great range of styles to practice and perfect, from the rousing gospel of ‘Raise Your Voice’ to the plaintive solo of ‘I Haven’t Got a Prayer’. A great musical achievement.

The Lighting Design by Tom Mowat was effective, with good use of overhead spots. Sound by Rob Kettridge was excellent: every word could be heard and the orchestra was very well balanced with the performers.

The set was impressively ecclesiastical and, considering the large number of slightly cumbersome scene changes, was well managed by the back stage crew.

I have been fortunate lately to see more than one amateur show where I have had no option but to give the most fulsome praise. This was one such: the liveliest and most beguiling production of this show I have seen. The whole theatre standing ovation confirmed that Matt and his team achieved something that was, well… simply Fabulous, Baby!