🎭 Sister Act
📍 Princess Theatre, Torbay Road, Torquay, Devon, TQ2 5EZ
🗓 Tuesday 27th August 2024
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
HEAVEN SENT
The nuns are taking over Torbay this week as heavenly musical SISTER ACT is playing at Torquay's Princess Theatre until Saturday.
The musical follows the same plot as the 1992 film starring Whoopi Goldberg on which it is based. Deloris Van Cartier, a lounge singer who witnesses her criminal lover commit murder, is put into the witness protection program for her own safety. She heads to Our Mother of Perpetual Sorrow, a convent which is lead by the strict Mother Superior, where she learns of the simple life she'll be forced to live within the walls.
At first she resists but she quickly forges friendships with her fellow sisters, even if she does has to lie to them, and after being punished for eloping to the bar across the street and is allowed only one activity - she can join the choir.
The comedically terrible singers are quickly whipped into shape by Deloris and start to perform crowd-pulling upbeat songs, much to the horror of the straight-laced Mother Superior.
Can Deloris keep her identity a secret? And can cop Eddie keep her safe and get the girl? Or will crook Curtis catch up with her and eliminate the only witness in his trial? All these questions and more are answered as the story unfolds.
Landi Oshinowo shines as she leads the company as Deloris. She is commanding and brings utter believability to the character and perfectly portrays both the brash and sensitive sides of her, and her versatile vocals fit perfectly. When she performs Fabulous, Baby! she instantly makes you sit up and take notice.
Wendi Peters is perfect in the role of Mother Superior. Just her facial expressions alone tell you everything you need to know about what she is thinking and her comic timing is brilliant. I Haven't Got a Prayer shows off her full talent as she brings together her acting and comedy skills which are accompanied by wonderful vocals.
The entire company are phenomenal and Alfie Parker as Eddie is no exception to this. His performance of I Could Be That Guy completely charmed the audience, having us both crying with laughter and cheering with joy.
The standout performance for me though came from the glorious Eloise Runnette as Sister Mary Robert. She completely embodied every nuance of the character and her vocal control was breathtaking. The way she slowly transformed from her timidness into belting out the final line of The Life I Never Led was sensational. Her singing voice had a Disney Princess quality to it and it was just an utter joy and privilege to watch her perform.
There was not one weak link in the company and the entire show was a true delight. I have seen many different productions of SISTER ACT over the years, but this one os absolute perfection - a real gift from the gods!
Filled to the brim with humour and humanity, SISTER ACT really shines in the ensemble numbers and songs such as Raise Your Voice, Sunday Morning Fever and Take Me To Heaven are overwhelmingly feel-good.
There isn't one thing I didn't love about this heaven sent production. It's bright, colourful, energetic and joyous. If you want a guaranteed good night out at the theatre then you won't be disappointed with SISTER ACT.
The show is playing at the Princess Theatre until Saturday 31st August. Click here to check availability and to book tickets.
Neill Kovacic-Clarke
All views are my own and I pride myself on being honest, fair and free from influence. Theatre is subjective and it is important to remember that all views expressed are just those of one reviewer.
My ticket for this performance of Sister Act was gifted by the Princess Theatre who invited me to watch the show in exchange for my honest review. The fact that my ticket was gifted played no part in the content of my review or the star rating given.
The cast of Sister Act on the steps of the Princess Theatre
Credit: Princess Theatre
CAST LIST:
Landi Oshinowo as Deloris Van Cartier; Wendi Peters as Mother Superior; Eloise Runnette as Sister Mary Robert; Alfie Parker as Eddie Souther; Ian Gareth-Jones as Curtis Jackson; Isabel Canning as Sister Mary Patrick; Julie Stark as Sister Mary Lazarus; Phillip Arran as Monsignor O'Hara; Katie Powell as Sister Mary Martin of Tours; Jayne Ashley as Sister Mary Theresa; Harvey Ebbage as TJ; Michael Antoniou as Pablo; Callum Martin as Joey; Esme Laudet as Michelle; Amber Kennedy as Tina; Joseph Connor as Clemont / Cop / Bartender; Ceris Hine as Onstage Swing; Sheri Lineham as Onstage Swing; Corrine Priest as Onstage Swing; Samuel John-Humphreys
RUNNING TIME (approx):
2 hours 35 minutes, including interval
CONTENT WARNINGS:
Gunshots; Depictions of mild violence and murder
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