Spread the news, it’s time to rock the pews at the Joseph Rowntree Theatre this week – as York Musical Theatre Company brings us the foot-stomping classic Sister Act.
It’s the much-loved tale adapted from the original 1992 film, as we follow disco-diva-turned-nun Deloris Van Cartier, who goes into hiding from her gangster boyfriend. Along the way, she unexpectedly finds a new role as a rebellious choir master, leading the convent down an unconventional path.
Sister Act The Musical is at Joseph Rowntree Theatre from Wednesday 21 to Saturday 24 May.
As we entered the beloved York theatre, stained glass was scattered across the stage, a clear indication that we were in for a divine experience. And the ambitious stage design did not stop there, as each new scene brought a fresh new visual through its clever set, paired with complementary lighting design by Adam Kirkland.
So who was our leading lady? Hayley Bamford donned the boots and fur and delivered a performance bursting with confidence and sass, taking on an abundance of solos. The team made notable script changes in view of the casting considerations, re-imagining the role once made famous by Whoopi Goldberg.
Bamford was backed by a strong army of sisters, each bringing their own unique flair to their roles. It was wonderful to look around and see the stage filled with infectious energy and a genuine love for performing. Among the standouts were Eve Clark’s beautiful and moving portrayal as the sweet postulant Sister Mary Robert, Katie Melia’s eccentric and comedic Sister Mary Patrick, and Sandy Nicholson as our remarkable rapping Sister Mary Lazarus. And overseeing our nuns was our devout Mother Superior played with conviction by Kirstin Griffiths.
These nuns certainly knew how to raise the rafters, and nothing’s as spiritual as spirit fingers themselves, with Kathryn Addison’s upbeat choreography sewn beautifully throughout the production. A special mention must go to Ilana Lock and Jennie Wogan-Wells who busted every move with boundless energy.
And what was the source of this non-stop energy? Our fantastic band, accompanying the plethora of numbers and shifting styles with ease. Musical director and conductor John Atkin not only led the production with precision, but has clearly worked hard with the entire ensemble to ensure the complex and beautiful harmonies are perfectly performed, which was mostly achieved.
Speaking of the ensemble, it would be sinful of me not to mention our leading men, all of whom did a superb job in their various roles. Zander Fick ensured that ‘When I Find My Baby’ was no throwaway – instead it’s one to remember. And York favourite Jack Hooper gave a lovable performance as our ‘Sweaty Eddie’, sharing a natural onstage chemistry with Bamford.
This production is bursting with dazzling costumes (Carly Price) but even brighter characters, offering you a musical full of comedy, rich vocals and toe-tapping numbers; it’s a feel-good celebration from start to finish. Whilst ‘Oh Happy Day’ may be absent, uplifting hits like ‘Take Me To Heaven’, ‘Sunday Morning Fever’ and ‘Spread the Love Around’ more than make up for it.
Raise your voice with these sensational sisters at Joseph Rowntree Theatre this week, as they offer a heavenly performance.
Sister Act The Musical is running until Saturday 24 May. Tickets start from £18 and are available via the Joseph Rowntree Theatre website.