All is right in the kingdom of Innerleithen as the amazing Opera cast get back in the habit of raising the roof off the Memorial Hall with their stage adaptation of Sister Act.

It's opening night for Innerleithen & District Operatic Society who are about to debut the musical comedy that hit our screens in 1992.

When clubland diva Deloris Van Cartier played by Nicola Watt burst into song with her big hair, leopard print clothes and purple knee high boots, I was hooked.

The story echoes that of the movie. Deloris is a Philadelphia lounge singer who dreams of stardom, but when she witnesses her lover-turned-gangster shoot one of his mob, she flees into the arms of good guy cop ‘Sweaty Eddie’ (Douglas Russell).

Deloris’ world is turned upside down when she is placed under witness protection in a rundown convent, disguised as nun Sister Mary Clarence.

Although the adaptation does not feature songs from the original film, the musical repertoire is diverse and magical.

When we first catch a glimpse of the nuns, as they meander across the stage squawking like a bunch of demented penguins, I grimace. They are so out of tune I pray I don’t hear that god awful sound again.

Upon learning that Deloris will be joining the convent, Mother Superior, played by Pam Graham, prays: “Dear Lord if this is a test, I cannot fail with you by my side. May she be of faith, of modesty…” But she is stopped in her tracks by the voice of a brash American Deloris.

Mother Superior continues: “Perhaps the choir of angels drowned me out and you didn’t hear me Lord.”

Pam plays the exasperated Mother Superior prissy and clipped, with subtle comedy delivered in perfect tone.

Of course things don’t run smoothly for the ghetto-fabulous diva-turned-nun as you probably can imagine. It isn’t long before Deloris ruffles Mother Superior’s habit and puts the nuns in danger, which leads to Deloris being given just one simple activity, joining the choir.

Can she really unleash the songbirds trapped inside these nuns? This is when the show steps up a notch, and, although all dressed in habits, the audience can start to identify with the lead characters.

In steps jolly Sister Mary Patrick, played by the enigmatic Claire Bell, along with Sister Mary Robert (Lizzie Bell) as the timid church mouse, and deadpan choir director Sister Mary Lazarus (Karen Wilson) who fully captured the gravelly voiced cantankerous nun. Her reprisal of the screen character is uncanny and garners lots of laughs from the audience.

When the large ensemble of nuns gathered together, I did feel a sense of sisterhood and that they were each playing different characters despite having a minor role or no dialogue. Their pitch perfect delivery of ‘Raise Your Voice’ and ‘Take Me To Heaven’ would draw the crowds into any church I’m sure.

Playing the leading lady is no easy task, but in scene after scene Nicola embraces Deloris and puts her own sass and ghetto style into the character, belting out powerful tunes. To sum up her performance, what better words to use than those of Deloris Van Cartier herself – she’s ‘Fabulous Baby’!

The last time I saw Lizzie Bell she was stumbling about drunk and shouting at a group of young kids, so I was shocked to see her convert to a Catholic nun. Of course, Lizzie was in character then as the vile orphanage boss Miss Hannigan, for Annie, performed by the Kids Innerleithen Theatre in November last year. The young actress shows true diversity, by portraying the meek Sister Mary Roberts with an enchanting solo performance.

Although the female performances were powerful, they did not overshadow the male cast. Roger Brydon, Stewart Wilson and Colin Tweedie had me in tears as bumbling henchmen Joey, TJ and Pablo. Their comical performance of ‘Lady In The Long Black Dress’ didn’t leave females in the audience weak at the knees, but it did conjure up a few belly laughs!

David Paterson was cast as Curtis who played the mob boss brilliantly, dominating the stage fiercely. And mild mannered officer Eddie Souter (Douglas Russell) who gave a cracking solo, proves he ‘Could Be That Guy’ going from ‘Sweaty Eddie’ to ‘Cool Copper', saving Deloris and winning her heart. A special mention to Jamie McCubbin, as the Irish Monsignor O’Hara – if I closed my eyes I’d swear it was Father Ted!

Needless to say the cast were at the top of their game, but anyone going to the show will no doubt be dazzled by the glitzy backdrop and detailed stained glass art of the fictional Catholic church. And the sensational costumes had more sparkle than a disco ball…and for habits, that’s no mean feat.

Sister Act had the congregation of the Memorial Hall hailing Hallelujah and taking us all to heaven, with what I can only sum up as a musical godsend.