Postcards from God

Postcards from God - The Sister Wendy Musical is a British musical with songs, lyrics and book by Marcus Reeves, based on the life and works of Sister Wendy Beckett, the noted art critic and nun of the order of the Sisters of Notre Dame de Namur.

Postcards from God began as a series of cabaret performances at Battersea Arts Centre in 2004 and is the story of art expert and writer Sister Wendy Beckett (born February 25, 1930) who became somewhat of a media sensation in the nineties with her television documentaries Sister Wendy's Odyssey (1992), Sister Wendy's Grand Tour (1997), Sister Wendy's Story of Painting (1997), Sister Wendy's American Collection (2001) and Sister Wendy at the Norton Simon Museum (2001).

Productions

As of 2016, there have been two stage productions of Postcards from God - The Sister Wendy Musical.

Jermyn Street Theatre Production (2007)

The show's premiere took place at London's Jermyn Street Theatre in January 2007. The cast consisted of Juliet Gough, Louise Hollamby, Andrea Miller and Catherine Millsom each playing a number of characters, with much-loved musical theatre actress Myra Sands starring in the title role.

The show was directed and choreographed by Omar F. Okai, with arrangements and musical direction by Tyrone Landau.^[1] The Okai Collier Company produced, in association with Mr. Theatre Ltd.

The script in this production was a collaboration between the show's creator Marcus Reeves and dramaturg Beccy Smith.^[2]

Hackney Empire Studio Production (2008)

In April of the following year, Okai Collier^[3] and Mr. Theatre presented a revised version of the show with a new book written by Marcus Reeves.^[4]

Gay Soper took on the role of Sister Wendy Beckett, joined by an ensemble consisting of: Sophie Adams, Nicola Blackman, Hannah Everitt, Laura Sheppard, Colette Kelly, Gemma Maclean, Chris Polick, Louise Hollamby and Catherine Millsom (returning from the Jermyn Street production) alongside Marcus Reeves.^[5]

Direction and choreography were once again by Omar F. Okai, with musical direction from Tyrone Landau.

In a bid to rebrand the piece, the show was simply known as 'The Sister Wendy Musical'.

Critical reception

Marcus Reeves gave an interview^[6] with LGBT arts site Qulturelink in September 2008 and commented on the piece:

'The first outing of Postcards was pretty unformed - it's been a very troubled birth for this little show, with two pretty disastrous productions so far - unfortunately the show risked being turned into more of a chamber pot musical than a chamber musical at times. Our press night at Jermyn Street was an unprecedented event for the venue - with all the well known critics (bar DeJongh) coming out to play - you could virtually hear their silent cackles of glee as the production creaked away in front of them.

The later production at the glorified broom cupboard that is Hackney Empire Studio had a new Sister Wendy and a little more bite. In that version and even more so in the newest (so far unseen) draft of the show, the character is certainly far more rounded - however, my aim with the piece has always been to let the audience decide what to make of this woman rather than bash them over the head with a judgment of her, so is she a selfless woman led astray, or an egotist who digs her own ditch and then falls in head first?'

Synopsis

^[7]

Act One

In a leafy glade in Norfolk, a group of nuns sing in praise of their neighbour, Sister Wendy Beckett (Second To None). Appearing in her caravan, Sister Wendy introduces herself and the artists she loves (A Passion For Poussin). Sister Anna-Maria, a novice, arrives with the post, including a letter from Daniel, a TV producer, offering Sister Wendy help with a dilemma (Don’t Hide Your Light). Sister Wendy reveals that she has been asked by the BBC to present a TV series, but asks Sister Anna-Maria to keep the project a secret from their reverend mother. In Oxford, Daniel leaves his office in charge of his new temp, the garrulous and rather gauche Pammy, while back in Norfolk, an angry Mother Ruth confronts Sister Wendy about her deception. After Sister Wendy breaks down, Sister Anna-Maria comforts her (Black And White), and Mother Ruth concedes that the series could benefit all the sisters. She allows the plans to go ahead, on the condition that Sister Wendy takes care of her failing health. The next day, perplexed by the intricacies of art history, Pammy and Sister Anna-Maria ask Daniel and Sister Wendy to explain (Art Is Meant For Everyone). Daniel receives word that the filming can go ahead and Sister Wendy starts her odyssey around Britain by bringing a biblical tale to life (Salome and St. John). Despite the excitement of making the series, she returns to her life of seclusion, receiving a rare visit from her elderly and ailing cousin. The pair reminisce on their childhood, (Closer Than Sisters), before Daniel invites Sister Wendy to make another series, this time touring around Europe. In Florence, Sister Wendy comes face to face with a renaissance icon (Botticelli’s Birth Of Venus). Hearing that the BBC are set to syndicate Sister Wendy’s programmes across the world, Daniel treats her to a trip to Paris to celebrate. On a visit to a café, the pair are besieged by tourists and fans, determined to praise their favourite art nun superstar (Viva Sister Wendy!).

Act Two

Many months have passed when Sister Wendy is invited to appear on Comic Relief, where she presents an irreverent take on a modern TV masterpiece (Sister Wendy’s Rap-ture). A few days later, she attends the launch for her new book at Dulwich Picture Gallery and is harangued by the press (A Minor Celebrity). Sister Wendy is surprised by the arrival of her sister, Penelope, who has travelled from South Africa to see her. They share an awkward reunion with Penelope reflecting on the differences between them (Faded Dreams) before they part for the last time. Daniel gives Pammy a pair of pearl earrings and thanks her for inspiring his next and most ambitious venture to date, a trip to the USA, while Sister Wendy returns to obscurity once again, troubled by the news that her cousin is critically ill. Although she previously resolved not to make any more TV shows, she soon arrives in America and is met at the airport by her worst nightmare, a group of evangelical singing nuns (Simple Love). Daniel eventually rescues her and she starts filming, with a reflection on the perils of fame inspired by Andy Warhol and his Marilyns (The Campbell’s Can Soup-er Man). Later that week, Sister Wendy is a special guest of chat show hostess Sugar Hill (Catch A Star!), who finds she may have met her match after a war of words between the two women. Exhausted and longing to return to her solitary life, Sister Wendy prays (Porcelain) as she prepares to talk about Edward Hopper’s ‘icon of loneliness’ (Nighthawks). Some time later, Daniel is in his office, packing. Pammy arrives and he explains that the USA trip was brought to a premature end by Sister Wendy being taken gravely ill. Pammy gives him back her pearl earrings, accusing him of stealing her ideas and exploiting Sister Wendy for his own gain. Daniel calls Mother Ruth, who tells him that their previous arrangement has come to an end and they both consider their part in Sister Wendy’s rise and fall (Black And White – Reprise). A few days later, at the Dulwich Picture Gallery, Pammy starts work as a tour guide, convincing the public that anyone can understand art history, if only they learn to look (Art Is Meant For Everyone – Reprise). Back in the caravan, Sister Wendy wakes for the first time in weeks. Sister Anna-Maria leaves her bedside as she looks back on her travels one last time and bids the outside world farewell (Lit Up By The Wonder).

Concept Cast Recording

2010 saw the recording and online release of eighteen songs from the show, featuring a wealth of West End performers and new arrangements by Michael Roulston (Elegies for Punks and Raging Queens, Saucy Jack and the Space Vixens, Gutenberg! The Musical!) produced by Simon Wallace (Lindsay Kemp, Absolutely Fabulous, French and Saunders).^[8]

The concept cast includes:

Gay Soper (Godspell, Les Misérables, Sunday in the Park with George) Nigel Richards (The Phantom of the Opera, Floyd Collins, Tom Waits's The Black Rider), Valda Aviks (The Phantom of the Opera, Mary Poppins, Jerry Springer – The Opera), Judith Paris (Annie, Oliver!, My Fair Lady), Olivier Award winner Leanne Jones (Hairspray, Tick, Tick... Boom!, The Naked Truth), Nathan Taylor (Hedwig and the Angry Inch, Taboo, The Rocky Horror Show), Juliet Gough (Flashdance, Miss Saigon, The Jungle Book) and Alice Redmond (Alice in Wonderland, Monkey: Journey to the West, Tracy Beaker Gets Real).^[8]

Musical numbers

Characters

Listed in the order in which they appear.

References