Hull New Theatre – until 23rd September 2023
Reviewed by Dawn Bennett
5*****
Jamie Wilson, Kevin McCollum, Gavin Kalin, Robbie Wilson and Curve present Sister Act A Divine Musical Comedy.
What a show we saw last night! The cheering after every number, at the end of the first half and at the end of the show had to been heard to be believed. Sister Act is one of my favourite movies so I wondered how I would find the stage version, to say I wasn’t disappointed would be something of an understatement. Everything from the acting, singing and dancing to the staging, lighting and music were first class. The audience at The New Theatre were on their feet before the last song was finished.
Sister Act tells the story (based on the book by Cheri Steinkellner and Bill Steinkellner) of Deloris Van Cartier (Landi Oshinowo) a singer who hasn’t quite made the big time, who witnesses her married boyfriend Curtis Jackson (Ian Gareth-Jones) shoot and kill Clemont (Castell Parker) one of his henchmen who has been an informer to the police about Curtis and his dodgy dealings. Deloris goes to the police station to get help and sees her old school friend and Police Officer Eddie Souther (Alfie Parker). Eddie persuades her to give evidence against Curtis and then he’s faced with the problem of keeping Deloris alive until the case against him gets to court. He decides that the best place to hide her is in a convent so hopefully Curtis won’t find her. Deloris hasn’t quite got the hang of being “under cover” and draws a lot of attention to herself taking over the running of the choir with amazing results! Mother Superior (Lesley Joseph) is not happy with the situation to say the least but the Police donating money to help repair the church helps change her mind! The story them gets a little bit more complicated when Deloris is spotted!
The musical numbers are not the same as the movie but to be honest it is so much better! With music by Alan Menken with the lyrics by Glenn Slater the
Orchestra (led by Musical director Neil MacDonald) play wonderfully. The balance of the music and being able to hear the actors was spot on. I could hear every word they sang. The costumes (Morgan Large) were very 1970’s the flared trousers and loud shirts, a well as the nun’s costumes were so good and the sets, also designed by Morgan, were very effective in their simplicity.
Every single member of the cast was magnificent, Lesley Joseph, as Mother Superior, gave a masterclass in comic timing. Landi Oshinowo (Deloris) had the most beautiful strong singing voice, Alfie Parker (Eddie) and Eloise Runnette (Sister Mary Robert) held the audience in the palm of their hands with their singing, you could hear a pin drop in the auditorium at some points. The other cast members played their parts so well, they are a very strong talented cast.
Sister Act is a rip-roaring, joyous musical that will leave you wanting more. I think I can now say that Sister Act is one of my favourite musicals as well as one of my favourite films, so much so that I’m going back on Saturday to watch it again!