Sister Act, like Legally Blonde, Ghost and Dirty Dancing, is a musical that has arrived on the back of a very successful 1990s film. However, unlike some of the aforementioned, Sister Act delivers as a fine musical in its own right.
Tristram Kenton
On a freezing November night in south-west London, the audience of the New Wimbledon Theatre waited patiently to be entertained by former X-Factor winner Alexandra Burke in a musical directed by reality TV rival Strictly Come Dancing judge Craig Revel Horwod. What we got was a fast-paced, soul-soaring, hum dinger of a show that left us all crying ‘Hallelujah’ and on our feet praying for an encore!
The story follows wannabe nightclub singer Deloris Van Cartier who is forced to seek refuge in a local convent after witnessing her gangster-boss boyfriend commit a murder. Initially resented by the Mother Superior (superbly played by Karen Mann), Deloris earns her keep by taking over the running of the nuns’ choir finally landing the gig of her life with a televised performance in front of the pope!
The cast were all fantastic – required not only to sing, dance and act but also to play musical instruments as well. Aaron Lee Lambert as bad boy Curtis brought the house down with his Barry White-esque “When I Find My baby”, while Ricky Rojas, Samuel Morgan-Grahame and Sandy Grigelis injected just the right amount of slapstick as his three hapless henchmen. There were soaring vocals and heavenly harmonies throughout, and the cast never gave less than 110% all night.
Tristram Kenton
The camp, disco-themed set alternated between 1970s Philadelphia clubland and the cold convent walls of a dilapidated inner city church, but like the cast it never missed a chance to don its sequins and add a bit of sparkle.
However, nothing could outshine the radiant Miss Burke who simply dazzled as the would-be diva Deloris who finds not only salvation but friendship with the sisters of All Angels. Her voice and delivery were tip-top throughout whether belting out the showstopping “Take Me to Heaven” or the more tender “Sister Act”.
Revel Horwood has delivered a divine, fast-paced, tour-de-force of a show, which if I can borrow one of his own words, is quite simply fab-u-lous!
Sister Act is at the New Wimbledon Theatre until December 3. Booking at atgtickets.com
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