If you’re looking for just the tonic head to the Birmingham Hippodrome this week for a heavenly dose of Sister Act.
This new hotly-anticipated production is a fabulous feel-good musical comedy that really hits the spot, lifting the spirits against the current chaotic backdrop of life.
Set in Philadelphia in the late 1970s, disco diva Deloris’ life takes a surprising turn when she witnesses a murder. Placed under protective custody she is hidden in the one place she shouldn’t be found – a convent! Encouraged to help the struggling choir, she helps her fellow sisters find their true voices as she unexpectedly rediscovers her own.
Sandra Marvin was always going to be stepping into the platform boots of Beverley Knight’s powerhouse West End portrayal of nun on the run – but stand aside Sister for she has more than earned her place in the spotlight on this tour of the show. Her outstanding vocals alone brought the house down on opening night in Birmingham. Certainly no problem reaching the ‘Gods’ with that voice! (See what I did there?)
Featuring original music by Tony® and eight-time Oscar® award-winner Alan Menken (Disney’s Aladdin, Enchanted) and songs inspired by Motown, soul and disco, this is a toe-tapping romp that had everyone on opening night on their feet by curtain call.
Plaudits too for Lesley Joseph who is wonderful in the role of Mother Superior, following in the footsteps of comedy great Jennifer Saunders in the West End. Joseph and Marvin form a strong on-stage partnership that we warm to.
But biggest laughs of the night though came from the unlikely direction of the villains of the piece – Jeremy Secomb, who plays Deloris’s lover, Curtis Jackson, and his hapless henchmen Joey, Pablo and TJ, played by Tom Hopcroft, Damian Buhagiar and Bradley Judge.
Special mention too to Olivier Award-winning actor Clive Rowe as the luckless dreamer Eddie Southern whose velvety smooth soulful vocals were enough to win over the heart of our heroine- as well as a packed Hippodrome audience. What a voice!
This is a show that challenges the saying ‘all that glitters is not gold.’ Indeed Sister Act is two hours of unadulterated slapstick fun – and we could all do with some more of that in our lives right now, couldn’t we!
It plays at the Birmingham Hippodrome until October 15th. Limited tickets still available here
