AS ONE OF THE most endearing musical movies of the early 90’s, Sister Act provided the perfect blend of comedy and music to showcase Whoopie Goldberg’s talents.
Both the original movie in 1992 and its sequel just a year later enthralled cinema and TV audiences around the world – so it was perhaps no surprise that over ten years later it would inspire a stage version.
That saw Sister Act – the musical premiere in Pasadena, California in 2006 – although it was to be three years before the show was to take its UK bow at the London Palladium.
Now six years later a Moray audience is being offered the opportunity to catch up with the smash hit when the Elgin Musical Theatre present their own production of the show in March.
For the stage version the action has been shifted from Reno and San Francisco in the 1960’s to 1970’s Philadelphia, but the plot remains fairly true to the original with Deloris Van Cartier witnessing her gangster boyfriend commit murder. For the Elgin stage it will be Nikki Lilley who takes on the not inconsiderable task of playing the role Whoopie made her own.
Helen McKellar has the job of emulating the wonderful work of Dame Maggie Smith in the movie, taking on the role of the Mother Superior first unconvinced by Deloris hiding out in her convent – but ultimately becoming the true heroine of the story.
Look out also for Andy Layton-James, ever popular on the cabaret stage around Moray and the north east, who takes on the role of Eddie, who has a vital role in the stage plot as the police station desk chief and old school friend of Deloris who decides she needs to go into witness protection – at the Holy Order of the Little Sisters of Our Mother of Perpetual Faith!
Elgin Musical Theatre’s chairman Ken Smith is promising Moray audiences three nights to remember at the Elgin Town Hall from March 3 to March 5. He told insideMoray: “We have a wonderful cast with a dedicated director, musical director and choreographer. The music is lively and infectious, so this show will bring the Town Hall to life!”
Joining Nikki, Helen and Andy on stage for the main roles will be Paul Woods (Curtis) and Ken Smith (Monsignor O’Hara) along with a superb supporting cast of actors, singers and dancers.
Tickets are available now via the Elgin Musical Theatre’s website and they will also be on sale in Mathesons Stores, Batchen Street, Elgin from January 25.
Trailer for Sister Act – the Musical’s professional touring show