BWW Reviews: SISTER ACT, New Wimbledon Theatre, June 6 2012

Like Ophelia, Deloris Van Cartier is told to "Get thee to a nunnery", but Sister Act (at New Wimbledon Theatre until 16 June and on tour) is no Hamlet - and why should it be? This new touring production of the movie-cum-stage show, is pure unabashed entertainment and, in the midst of this seemingly endless recession, that formula was enough to fill every seat in London's ninth biggest venue on a Wednesday evening. "Praise The Lord" for musical theatre! 

Safely locked away in the sanctuary of a covent, nightclub singer, gangster's moll and murder witness, Deloris doesn't fit in and pines for the good life of bad livin'. All that changes when she stirs the inner soul singers deep inside the nuns and, inevitably, the inner martinet not so deep inside the Mother Superior (Denise Black). After a few scrapes, a few laughs, a Keystone Kops chase and a reconciliation with both the Mother Superior and her childhood sweetheart (who just happens to be the cop protecting her), there's a glorious glitzy papal finale with the bad guys parcelled off to prison and Dolores on her way to stardom. Yes - you're right. There's plenty of smash hit musical DNA in that plot!

As Deloris, Cynthia Erivo gives a powerhouse performance nailing the songs inspired by glorious sound of 1970s Philadephia Soul and timing the jokes like a pro of twenty years standing, rather than two. Like Emi Wokoma (recently seen in Soul Sister which transfers to the West End in August), Ms Erivo has a big future ahead of her. She gets solid support from a fine cast who sing and dance - well, dance as well as one can in a habit - with Jacqui Clarke, a stalwart of the Dave Allen at Large shows would you believe, a wonderfully warm and funny Sister Mary Lazarus. Amongst the men, Gavin Cornwall's gangster lover menaces moodily and sings sensationally, and Edward Baruwa has them whooping in the aisles as Sweaty Eddie, Deloris' high school sweetheart, with his big number "I could be that guy".

Alan Menken's pounding score is done full justice by a live orchestra (which includes a surprise new member towards the end) and, with glitz and glamour to complement the magnificent sets, every penny of the ticket price is up there on the stage. The ovations that greeted the curtain and the joy that bounced around the house at the curtain were fully earned - just don't forget to suspend the disbelief!         

 

 

 

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