Sister Act as presented by Clara Musical Society

Public Adjudication: 

Sister Act as presented by Clara Musical Society: 

Saturday 13th April 2024. 

I’m spending so much time looking at nuns these days, I’m beginning to feel quite spiritual. Mind you, if the local churches presented their gospel in the manner in which I’m becoming accustomed to hearing it, the churches would probably have much larger congregations. For the joy that emanates from a production of Sister Act is something unique, as the audiences in 

Clara have been witnessing this week. If it wasn’t for the murder at the start, the gangsters running around the stage and the cops in hot pursuit, it would be quite the religious experience. In actual fact, it’s a wonderful theatrical experience, and one that Clara Musical Society, under the guidance of Director, Alan Recks, have had great fun presenting. 

There was a well-painted, well-constructed, attractive, and practical set for this production, doing enough to suggest the various locations without over-taxing the stage crew, who, under stage manager and designer, Wayne Handy, kept the action flowing with very little interruption. Alan’s focus was on using the stage space well, combining it with good visuals and strongly drawn characters, and putting an emphasis on the comedy and the musical quality of the piece, which, as Musical Director, he managed to achieve most successfully.

Leading, from the keyboards, an orchestra who really got under the skin of the great gospel rhythms. He managed to keep a good balance between them and the energetic and enthusiastic chorus, as they pumped out quality vocals and great harmonies. They did all that was required of them and more, with good energy, a great sense of fun and an impressive level of discipline, which was also the case with their dance routines, which were varied and interesting, despite many of the big numbers having very similar rhythms. That variety was a result of good creative work by choreographer, Ruth Maher, who elicited good precision from her performers. There was also delightfully twee and highly amusing work done on the boys’ routines, with “Lady in the Long Black Dress” being the choreographic and comedic showstopper. All in all, Ruth gave us a very well-presented package. 

Amanda Cunningham was a very good Deloris Van Cartier, with a great sense of comedy, and bucket loads of passion. In such a demanding role, she never wavered, and she sold her songs with a strong and note-perfect voice. Her interactions with the Mother Superior were particularly entertaining, always heated, but with great mutual respect also. Very well played. Joan White, as Mother Superior, had a lovely snippy delivery of her disdain at having to house Deloris at her church. Beautifully played, with well-delivered comedy, she had that befuddled confusion of trying to accept the changing times, but also a lovely sincerity in her devout religion. She certainly seemed to enjoy becoming ‘hip’ in the finale. “Her” was well sung. 

Stephen Rabbette, as Sweaty Eddie, was a very enjoyable dork in the early scenes of the show, made the most of “I Could Be That Guy,” and comically became the hero at the end of the show. A lovely all-round performance.

Stephen Keegan was a real louse as tough Guy, Curtis, full of evil and egotism as he sold “When I Find My Baby,” and happily brought down to size by Eddie and the nuns. A nicely played rogue. 

Malcolm Whelan was a very jolly and slightly silly Monsignor O’Hara, but he made the most of his journey, delightfully transforming from proper and correct to wannabe rock DJ. Played with a fine sense of comedy. 

Laoise Flanagan was suitably gentle as Mary Roberts in her early scenes, and then blossomed into an impassioned soul on her journey of self-discovery. Her rendition of “The Life I Never Led” was very good and displayed a very capable vocal quality. 

Aoife Devery’s Sister Mary Patrick needed to lay off the Red Bull, if her hyperactivity was anything to go by! Played with a great sense of fun, she maintained her ditzy character delightfully all night. 

Janet Coss was a suitably grumpy Mary Lazarus, but so much fun when she let her guard down and got into the spirit of the rock gospel music, and she could certainly ‘feel the beat.’ Aoife Fitzsimons aged herself beautifully and was a crooked and comical Mary Martin of Tours, and Grainne Donoghue wheezed her way to a very funny performance as Mary Theresa. As a collective, these sisters were great together. 

Then there were those three dumb gangsters, Chris Corroon as TJ, Liam Cushen as Joey, and Barry Dunne as Pablo. These three were very funny together, oozing a kind of negative sex appeal, smarmy and inappropriate, and well, looking a bit like the leftovers from a bad 70’s porn movie. With good falsetto, deranged dance moves and much silliness, “Lady in the Long Black Dress” was the song of the show, for me, showing these three at their comedic best. 

Ruth Kelly and Aisling Geoghegan performed very well as Tina and Michelle, Sean Keeney was a good Ernie, and there were several cameo roles that were all well-realized. 

Lighting for this production was generally atmospheric, with some very nice effects and good definition of special areas. On the few occasions, principals missed their spotlights, but the efficient board operator quickly sorted the problem by adding more lights. Sound quality was good throughout the show, with pretty tight cueing and good balance between the singers and the musicians. 

From a costume point of view, the nuns looked good in their normal day wear, funny and cute in their night dresses, and resplendent in their multi-colored, cabaret nuns’ habits. Those cheesy gangsters were (dis)tastefully attired in their gaudy seventies’ styles, with their garish hairstyles, all totally in keeping with the era and with their personalities. Props and the dressing of the stage were all very much in order, so that visually, the whole show had a good feel to it. 

While Sister Act may not be the most challenging show ever conceived, it is certainly one of the best feel-good pieces on offer, and when it is presented as well as this one, it will not fail to send the audience home with bright smiles on their faces. My gratitude to all in Clara for a super night of entertainment. 

Peter Kennedy

Gilbert Adjudicator 23/24

Photos credit Paul Kelly / Indigo Lighting