Nunsense

Over the years I have enjoyed many ELT productions. Their intimate venue is ideal for plays, but not for large-scale musicals, so Nunsense, with its small cast, was an ideal choice.

It was also one of their best.

At least three of the five performers had professional experience, and all had to sing, dance and act. Of course, the acting was strong, but they sang well and the dancing was surprisingly good. At one stage four of them launched into a tap dance!

In recent times ELT have employed backing tracks, so it was a pleasant surprise to find a keyboard and guitar at the back of the stage, occasionally joining in the action. There were microphones suspended along the front of the stage, but the singers had no problems being heard and the sound was well balanced.

Young Heidi Yule as Sister Leo was an accomplished ballet dancer with an excellent voice. Her mother, Jane Menze, was the Mother Superior, struggling to keep her brood under control.

Judith Sivasubramaniam was delightfully vague as Sister Amnesia. Her strong operatic voice was often distorted to achieve the characterization she wanted. Laura Marcucci sang beautifully as Sister Hubert and Lisa Upson was a delightful Sister Robert Anne.

But it was the engagement with the audience which made the show, with the performers sometimes coming into the audience. It was very funny.

Well done Eltham Little Theatre!

Graham Ford

Photographer  - Ian Clark  Studio Imagery.