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St. Augustine's Musical Theatre Company

The UK Midlands' Award Winning Premier Local Theatre Company - Entertaining for 50 Years - 1974 to 2024

Sister Act
Performances: 17 to 22 November 2015
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Based on the film starring Whoopi Goldberg, this was be a premiere production for Solihull and the area. With an original score by 'Beauty and the Beast' composer Alan Menken, SISTER ACT is a sparkling tribute to the universal power of Friendship. The show is a reason to Rejoice! You will be up singing and dancing in the aisles with them. It would have been a sin to miss it!

TWO FURTHER PERFORMANCES ADDED ON SUNDAY 22 NOVEMBER!

“Awesome show! All of you .. Brilliant!”

“Well done!! Fantastic show.”

“WOW!!! simply... Just wow!!! You are all brilliant. Thoroughly enjoyed all of you and your performances tonight. Well done and enjoy the rest of the run.”

“We loved it.”

“Well done to the whole cast of Sister Act!!! The best show I have ever seen!! No wonder it's a sell out!”

“Fantastic show…Very entertaining & you should all be very proud of yourselves.”


Thanks to everyone who attended the audition sessions in the Spring - we had a great turn-out, particularly from all those wanting to be a nun! The cast list can be seen below and over to the right.
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A TOP REVIEW FOR SISTER ACT FROM LOVE MIDLANDS THEATRE - “A STELLAR CAST OF NUNS ARE THE CENTREPIECE OF THIS SHOW”

“Sister Act
is a favourite amongst amateur theatre society’s since the rights were released, it is a difficult show, with complicated harmonies, dancing and even staging! The team behind St Augustine’s Musical Theatre Company have taken on a beast and brought a brilliant piece of theatre to the crowds in Solihull.
 
With a fully sold-out run ahead, it is clearly an audience pleaser and
STAGS MTC has worked extremely hard on bringing this complex musical to life. A stellar cast of nuns are the centrepiece of this show, they are engaging, hilarious and utterly brilliant. Sister Mary Patrick is played with absolute gusto by Nicola Palfrey, with a beaming smile throughout and an endearing hyperactivity which really brings the character to life. Alice White also delivers a sterling performance as the timid Sister Mary Robert. Her voice effortlessly reached an abundance of high notes and her rendition of The Life I Never Led was perhaps one of the strongest I have seen on the amateur circuit.
 
Special mentions also to
Sarah Furmage as Sister Mary Lazarus who delights in her role, with excellent comic timing she garnered many a laugh from the packed-out audience. As well as a commendable performance from Rachel Pattinson as the Mother Superior, and Diane Bennett who was hilarious as the ‘crazy’ nun, Sister Mary Martin of Tours.
 
The male cast supported well, with
Kieran Corrigan, Davyd Bagby and Richard Haddock highly entertaining as the terrible trio of TJ, Pablo and Joey, led by a wily Richard Gosnay in the role of Curtis. Corrigan certainly has some suave dance moves! Another highlight was Nigel Jones who was fabulous as the Irish Monsignor and although a slightly nervy start from Robert Restell he confidently tackled Eddie’s big number I Could Be That Guy.
 
It is of course the leading lady that really shines. Such a demanding role for any performer,
Loretta Parnell became Deloris with some fantastic acting and a powerful voice. One thing that you could not fault about her performance was her diction, some jokes that sometimes can get lost to an audience, she delivered excellently.
 
There were unfortunately times where the pace dropped, mainly due to some complicated staging, but the cast dealt with this exceedingly well and tried to regain the pace as quickly as they could. The beauty of this musical is that it is packed full of toe-tapping numbers that instantly lift the spirit and this ensemble were not afraid to take these big numbers on. Harmonies were crisp under the musical direction of
Stephen Powell and Liane Hughes brought the big numbers to life through carefully crafted choreography, which was well-executed by the entire cast. All under the directorial hand of Veronica Walsh it was a beast to tackle, but tackle it they did.
 
Congratulations
STAGS MTC and all the best for the rest of the run.”
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SISTER ACT - LORETTA PARNELL is DELORIS van CARTIER

We were thrilled that Loretta Parnell joined the company to take the lead role of Deloris van Cartier in our November production of ‘Sister Act’, staged at Solihull Arts Complex.

Loretta’s previous stage experience brought a wonderful dimension to the role made famous by Whoopi Goldberg in the film version of ‘Sister Act’. She was just ‘Fabulous Baby’!

Meet some of the female cast!

Deloris van Cartier was played by Loretta Parnell, Mother Superior by Rachel Pattinson, Sister Mary Robert by Alice White, Sister Mary Lazarus by Sarah Furmage, Sister Mary Theresa by Alison Tumber, Sister Mary Martin-of-Tours by Dianne Bennett. Deloris’s backing singers Michelle and Tina were played by Laura White and Charlotte Costello.
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RACHEL PATTINSON
plays MOTHER SUPERIOR
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NICOLA PALFREY
plays SISTER MARY PATRICK
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SARAH FURMAGE
plays SISTER MARY LAZARUS
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ALICE WHITE
plays SISTER MARY ROBERT
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LAURA WHITE
plays MICHELLE/NUN
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CHARLOTTE COSTELLO
plays TINA/NUN
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DIANE BENNETT
plays SISTER MARY MARTIN-OF-TOURS
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ALISON TUMBER
plays SISTER MARY THERESA
We are also delighted to welcome the male cast!

Curtis Shank was played by Richard Gosnay, Monsignor O’Hara by Nigel Jones, Eddie Souther by Rob Restell, Joey by Richard Haddock, Pablo by Davyd Bagby. TJ was played by Kieran Corrigan.
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RICHARD GOSNAY
plays CURTIS SHANK
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ROB RESTELL
plays EDDIE SOUTHER
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NIGEL JONES
plays MONSIGNOR O’HARA
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RICHARD HADDOCK
plays JOEY
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KIERAN CORRIGAN
plays TJ
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DAVYD BAGBY
plays PABLO
Synopsis
Act 1

On Christmas Eve, Deloris Van Cartier is performing for her gangster boyfriend Curtis Jackson in the night club he owns (Take Me to Heaven). Deloris is overjoyed as she believes her boyfriend is going to introduce her to a record producer on that day, although she soon learns that this is not to be. Jackson tells her he cannot join her for Christmas Day, but gives her a coat, which she discovers belonged to his wife. Hurt and frustrated, Deloris goes to her backup singers Michelle and Tina, about her dreams of stardom and fame (Fabulous, Baby!). She decides to break up with Jackson and head out of Philadelphia to go fulfill her dreams on her own. However she gets to Jackson just in time to see him and his crew - made up of nephew TJ, Joey, and Pablo - shoot someone who they believe has "squealed" about them to the cops.
Horrified, Deloris runs away and Jackson orders his men to get her and bring her back. Deloris runs to a police station and tells the desk chief, Eddie, about what happened. The two recognize each other as old friends from school with Deloris calling him "Sweaty Eddie". Eddie decides that Deloris needs to go into the witness protection program and sends her to the place he believes Jackson will never find her - a convent.

Deloris is disappointed by this idea as she learns from the Mother Superior that contact with the outside world is limited, and that she cannot smoke, drink, or wear any of her less than appropriate clothing (
Here Within These Walls). Deloris joins the other nuns for dinner, is introduced as Sister Mary Clarence, and after several comedic interactions with the overly perky Sister Mary Patrick, Deloris discovers just how much is limited when she is a nun (It’s Good to Be A Nun). Deloris asks them about what they’re missing, and Mother Superior makes Deloris go on a fast.

Meanwhile back in his nightclub, Jackson is frustrated that he cannot find Deloris anywhere. He tells Joey, TJ, and Pablo how he will not stop until he finds and kills Deloris (
When I Find My Baby). Back at the convent Deloris is hungry from the fast. She goes across the street to a slinky bar, and is followed by Sister Mary Patrick and Sister Mary Robert, a shy and quiet nun. When the two nuns arrive they see how fun things can be outside of the convent. However, Deloris recognizes Joey, TJ, and Pablo entering the bar. Suddenly there is a fight in the bar, giving Deloris, Sister Mary Patrick, and Sister Mary Robert a chance to escape.

Eddie and Mother Superior meet them back at the convent. Mother Superior confronts Deloris, telling her that she must conform to the life of the nuns. Eddie agrees, telling Deloris that Jackson has upped the price on her head, so she needs to be careful. Deloris storms back to the convent after being informed that she has to wake up at 5 a.m. and join the choir. Eddie, now alone with only the drunks and homeless on the street, sings of his desire to be cool, to let go, and impress Deloris (
I Could Be That Guy).

The following morning Deloris attends the choir practice and realizes how bad it is. Deloris offers to try teaching them, taking over from Sister Mary Lazarus, an older nun. Deloris teaches the nuns how to sing in key and on time. She also manages to break the quiet and timid Sister Mary Robert out of her shell (
Raise Your Voice). That Sunday, the choir perform an up-tempo hymn (Take Me to Heaven (Reprise)) which to the struggling church's surprise brings in more people and more donations. Mother Superior, however, is horrified how the simple traditional choir she knew has changed and become modern.


Act 2

Mother Superior wants to get rid of Deloris, but Monsignor O’Hara tells her that the men who were planning to buy the church love the choir, and have given their money to improve and keep the church. Over the coming weeks, the choir has become incredibly successful and the money from donations has paid for the church to be remodeled and fixed (Sunday Morning Fever). Monsignor O’Hara has some terrific news: the choir has been asked to perform a special concert in front of the Pope. However, the newfound fame comes at a price.

Jackson and his goons spot Deloris with the choir on the television. Jackson orders his boys to get into the convent and bring Deloris to him. TJ, Joey, and Pablo discuss how they will do this (
Lady in the Long Black Dress).
Meanwhile, Mother Superior prays to God and asks why He has given her the challenge that is Deloris (
Haven’t Got A Prayer). But, she soon gets a call from Eddie. Deloris is approached by the Nuns before they go to sleep, asking her to lead them praying for their show for the Pope, which is the following day (Bless the Show). Mother Superior arrives and tells Deloris that the court date for Jackson has moved up to the next day and she must leave immediately. The other nuns overhear and Deloris is forced to tell them the truth about who she really is and that she cannot perform with them. Deloris quickly runs off to get her things followed by Sister Mary Robert while the other nuns disappointedly go back to their rooms.

As Deloris prepares to leave, Sister Mary Robert begs to come with her, claiming that she has been inspired to become a stronger person and go after the things she wants (
The Life I Never Led). Deloris tells her that she doesn't need her to do that, and that she can do it all herself if she really wants to. Deloris runs from the convent and stays at Eddie's house for the night. While there she initially is overjoyed that the following day she will testify against Jackson and his boys and then go back to pursuing the career she's dreamed of (Fabulous, Baby! (Reprise)). But guilty for abandoning her sisters when they needed her, she reflects on her life and realizes that the choices she is making will leave her with nothing but fame and money, and when the lights go out she will be alone. She decides to return to the convent and sing with her sisters (Sister Act).

Meanwhile, Jackson thinks up a new way to get into the convent (
When I Find My Baby (Reprise)). Dressed as nuns, Jackson, Joey, TJ, and Pablo sneak into the convent; they find and chase Deloris. The Nuns see that, and they all prepare to protect Deloris. Mother Superior, however, is adamant that they stay and call the police, prompting an outburst from Sister Mary Robert who tells her that she won't be quiet and take orders blindly anymore; that she is going to help Deloris (The Life I Never Led (Reprise)). The other nuns agree and all of them go running through the convent looking for Deloris.

It all comes down to a final confrontation in which Jackson, armed and dangerous, tells Deloris to get on her knees and beg for her life. However, all the sisters and nuns stand in front of her telling Jackson that they will have to go through them first (
Sister Act (Reprise)). Jackson is about to start firing at the nuns when Eddie comes in and fights Jackson off. He arrests Jackson and his boys and Deloris and he share a kiss. Mother Superior and Deloris come to a truce and accept that perhaps they are not so different after all. The show ends with all the nuns and eventually the entire cast performing for the Pope (Spread the Love Around). The cast then perform Raise Your Voice (Reprise) as a curtain call.
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Sister Act - Flyer Front
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Sister Act - Flyer Back (Ticket Booking Form)
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Sister Act 2015

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