Get thee to a nunnery – and don’t miss one of the best shows to grace the Theatre Royal Bath stage so far this year.
The Broadway and West End hit Sister Act The Musical is visiting the Theatre Royal Bath to Saturday, August 17 as part of a major nationwide tour.
I guarantee you’ll never see a more hard-working cast than this one as the 21 actors, singers and dancers deservedly receive a standing ovation for their performances.
They are led by stage and screen star Wendi Peters as the Mother Superior of The Holy Order of the Little Sisters of Our Mother of Perpetual Faith, and Landi Oshinowo as everyone’s favourite nun on the run, Deloris Van Cartier.
The Sister Act The Musical company. Photo: Mark Senior (Image: Mark Senior)
Based on the iconic 1992 film Sister Act, this Joyous and uplifting musical features original music by Tony and eight-time Oscar winner Alan Menken and songs inspired by Motown, soul and disco.
Full of glitz and with powerful performances from every member of the cast, Sister Act The Musical is a sparkling tribute to the universal power of friendship, sisterhood and music.
For those who haven’t seen the film, the musical tells the hilarious story of a would-be disco diva whose life takes a surprising turn when she witnesses a murder.
Under protective custody of the Philadelphia Police Department, she is hidden in the one place she isn’t likely to be found – a convent!
Disguised as a nun and under the suspicious watch of Mother Superior, Deloris helps her fellow sisters find their voices as she unexpectedly rediscovers her own.
Wendi Peters as Mother Superior in Sister Act The Musical. Photo: Mark Senior (Image: Mark Senior)
Following in the footsteps of theatre greats, Whoopi Goldberg, Beverley Knight and Alexandra Burke, Landi Oshinowo turns in a superbly powerful and sensitive performance as Deloris.
Wendi Peters also produces a top-class performance as the Mother Superior, whose initial suspicion of Deloris eventually melts and turns to friendship.
The real show-stealer is the performance of Alfie Parker as ‘Steady’ Eddie Southern, the Philadelphia cop who’s had a high school crush on Deloris and is now tasked with protecting her from gangster boss Curtis Jackson played by Ian Gareth-Jones.
If you thought that peeling off one uniform was a feat, just wait until you see him whip off not two, but three outfits during his song “I Could Be That Guy”.
This man has a voice that’s as smooth as silk and his solo was literally a showstopper as Alfie nailed every note, finishing with a crescendo that left the audience in awe.
Wendi Peters as Mother Superior and Company. Photo: Mark Senior (Image: Mark Senior)
The cast also features Eloise Runnette as Sister Mary Robert, alongside Isabel Canning as Sister Mary Patrick, Julie Stark as Sister Mary Lazarus, Phillip Arran as Monsignor O’Hara, Kate Powell as Sister Mary Martin of Tours, Jayne Ashley as Sister Mary Theresa, Elliot Gooch as TJ, Michalis Antoniou as Pablo, Callum Martin as Joey, Esme Laudat as Michelle, Amber Kennedy as Tina, Harvey Ebbage as Clemont and Joseph Connor as Cop and Bartender.
The company is completed by Ceris Hine, Sheri Lineham, Corrine Priest and Samuel John-Humphreys.
Sister Act is directed by Bill Buckhurst with choreography by Alistair David. Set and costume design is by Morgan Large with lighting design by Tim Mitchell, sound design by Tom Marshall and musical supervision by Stephen Brooker.
I loved the Hollywood blockbuster film with Whoopi Goldberg as Deloris and Maggie Smith as the Mother Superior and I predict you’ll love the musical. It’s brilliant, must-see show which raises the spirits and warms the soul.
Sister Act The Musical appears at the Theatre Royal Bath to Saturday, August 17. To book tickets contact the Theatre Royal Box Office on 01225 448844 or visit theatreroyal.org.uk.
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