Music: Alan Menken. Lyrics: Glenn Slatter. Book Cheri Steinkellner & Bill Steinkellner. Blackout Theatre Co. Director: Dennis Clements. Musical Director: Dr Angel Wong. Pioneer Theatre Castle Hill. 5 – 14 June, 2026

Reviewed : 6 June, 2026

Sister Act is always fun, and this production makes the very most of the fun, the joy and the silly “gangster” comedy scenes. The direction is slick, resulting in smooth continuity despite multiple costume and scene changes – made easier by cleverly chosen images projected on a wide cyclorama, which at times ‘danced’ along to the music.

Projections have become an asset for short ‘bump ins’ and smaller stages – and Blackout’s directors and set designers continue to make very effective use of them to frame their productions.

Director Dennis Clements writes of “the wonderful heartfelt characters and uplifting music, mixed with a large dose of quirky humour” that he found irresistible in Sister Act and he certainly made those features shine in this production. Clements’ experience across theatre is evident is his attention to the whole production – the acting as well as the action – which has given nice dimension to the characters and the comedy.

Angelique Elchaar finds that dimension playing Deloris Van Cartier. This is Elchaar’s first lead role and she plays it with enormous joie de vivre and strong vocal energy and control. The Deloris she creates is open and self-assured, facing rejection (and confinement in the convent) with a wide smile and confident chutzpah that inspires the nuns – and the audience. She established quick, strong relationships with other characters giving truth to the lines “And with my sisters standing strong/I’m on the stage where I belong”.

Julianne Horne brings a wealth of experience across musical theatre to her performance of the Mother Superior. Horne’s vocal range and control is carefully honed making her ideal for songs in this role. But she also finds the character behind the songs – her religious zeal, her strict control of the nuns … and her real personality.

The novice, Sister Mary Robert, gives a young actor the chance to play a ‘thinking’ teenager which Cassidy Donovan does with engaging verve – and a lovely voice. The relationship between Deloris and Sister Mary Robert has been developed carefully and brings a charming warmth to the production.

As does Rachel Besley’s interpretation of Sister Mary Lazarus, who brings a distinctive comedic zing to the character with her expressive face, her rocky rap and her upbeat energy – which match well with Renee Bechara’s portrayal of the gentle but daring Sister Mary Patrick. They, and all of the nuns, make sure that enthusiasm and energy sparkles throughout the production. Their singing, their reactions, their dancing and their precision are outstanding.

Choreographer Lauren MacKinnon makes the ‘big’ song and dance numbers seem as much fun to perform as they were to watch. The band, conducted by musical director Dr Angel Wong and Leo Tarbox, piped in as always from another room, gives the performers the oomph needed to “take them to heaven”

But what of the men? Dennis Clements makes sure that the comedy Cheri and Bill Steinkellner wrote into the male roles is an integral part of the production. The role of Monsignor O’Hara is played with original reverence but increasing dollar-raising greed and dance-along boppy-ness by Michael Robinson. Raven Amigable and Will Smith play his serious attendants.

Christopher Melotti playing Curtis Jackson with his “boys” – Nathaniel Laswson, Dylan Boniface, and Nirthanan Krishnan – make the gang funny, and dumb, as they are supposed to be, but they also dance well and did some fun little movement gags.

Andrew Topino makes the role as “Sweaty” Eddie Souther everything it could be. Whether remembering being “the king of uncool” as a schoolkid, or saving Deloris from Curtis, or singing and dancing in “I Could Be That Guy”, Topino shows he has not only “a fistful of style” but is a very accomplished all round performer.

This production of Sister Act has all the charm of the story, the vivacity and magic of the music and performances that will certainly warm up next week’s winter nights. Don’t miss it!

First published in Stage Whispers magazine