Act Reviews 2024 / 2025 Season

The attention to detail was maintained with the costumes, which were extensive in this production – I especially liked Paul’s cardinal costume. I wasn’t quite sure why Father Chenille had a patterned shirt collar under his vestments, I kept expecting him to do a Paul-style “strip tease” and reveal that he was wearing something rather un-priest-like underneath! The programme passes on thanks to Chelsie Jayne for the clerical wardrobe, and to Janet Philbrook at Stage Door Theatre for the loan of props and costumes, indicating again the teamwork and collaboration that had gone into this production. Tech, ably managed by Richard l’Anson, was impeccable – I especially enjoyed the beginning voiceover of the Mother Superior doing the Front of House announcements! Having directors who double as cast members is always a big decision to make in a production – while at times it can be unavoidable, it can also be (in my experience) to the detriment of the production with the loss of the audience’s perspective in scenes when the directors are themselves on stage. However, this did not appear to be the case for Tristesse James (who also played Sister Mary Catherine) and James Stovold (who also played George). The only time when I noticed a lapse in consideration to the audience perspective (and it may just have been for my seat, and those sitting close by, as from the audience’s delighted reaction I know most of them were able to see this clearly) was when Sister Augusta (played by Jackie Edington) was crawling at the top of the staircase to spy on Sister Mary Catherine and my view of her was almost completely blocked by the sewing table. If not for the reaction from the rest of the audience I would not have known this had happened, which is a shame – I’m glad I caught it even briefly and with impaired view as it was still funny! Overall direction was tight, with great characterisation and good movement by the cast around the stage, and positioning when multiple members were on stage at the same time – no mean feat on a stage that size. I was a bit confused why no one could see George napping in the middle

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