Sister Act! A Devine Musical Comedy At Nottingham Theatre Royal Review

Reviewed by Tonya Glennester

What can I say about Sister Act? For those that have seen the movies the storyline is the same, however this expertly executed theatre performance is set in Philadelphia and with a whole new musical score!

The first act shows us the Convent. With out giving away the spoilers that made us all instantly laugh, let’s just say the Convent is run down with a few things falling down. We see the sisters and the Mother Superior (played magnificently by Leslie Joseph) praying for an intervention, when this scene closes and we are transported to The Club.

This is our first peak at the Dazzling and Sparkly ‘Deloris Van Cartier’ and her back-up singers, auditioning to Star in her married lovers ‘Curtis Jackson’ Club. Curtis is the villain of our story, I would be gangster with his crew. he tells Deloris she is not good enough to play in his club, but he sweetens the blow with a Gift, that’s right just like in the movie this is the gift that lands Deloris in trouble.

Deloris opens the Gift to find a Fur coat with Curtis’s Wifes name inside, feeling angry she goes to chuck the coat in a dumpster behind the club, this is where she witnesses Curtis shoot a man dead. Fleeing the scene Curtis orders his Goons to track down Deloris and kill her if she refuses to come back, this leads into another comical scene of Deloris trying to out run the Goons and get to the Police Station.

Now we meet ‘Eddie’ or as Deloris remembers him from her past as ‘Steady Eddie’ the lovable Police Officer, As Deloris regales the officers about her ordeal with Curtis, they decide she needs to be protected, but where oh where shall they take her?

We return to the Convent where the Monsignor has informed the Mother Superior that she will be Hiding Deloris in the Convent. Deloris arrives and to her horror finds she must swap her jazzy sequins for a Black and White Habit.

We see Deloris taking a life journey whilst at the convent, learning about friendship, and the importance of Sisterhood. Continually chastised for her mistakes she eventually joins the Choir, yes this is where we see the all magical change where Deloris truly feels like she is part of the sisterhood, and maybe although she doesn’t admit it, her connection to God.

The Convent had been under threat of being sold, but now the Choir has transformed the congregation, more people are coming in of the streets and the fundraising to save the church begins. they soon learn that his holiness the pope is coming to watch them sing, this leads to much excitement amongst the sisters, but this excitement is soon extinguished when they are told the truth about Deloris.

Curtis’s and his Goons have learned where Deloris is and now she must leave the Convent, Eddie takes Deloris back to his home to protect her, they reminisce about their past. In a dream state we see Deloris is torn by being a Star on the Stage or being with her new found sisterhood, when she wakes she sneaks out back to the convent, so she can be with her Sisters as they sing for his holiness the Pope!

Curtis and his Goons infiltrate the convent, but the Nuns have a Plan to Save Deloris, let’s just say this plan has plenty of belly laughs and involves Frying Pans! With the Goons all tied up there is only Curtis left now pointing his gun at Deloris and the Sisters, but our lovable officer Eddie saves the day shooting Curtis before he hurts anybody.

As the title says it is a Devine Comedy and there is now shortness of laughter throughout the whole performance. Not to mention the 70s inspired Costumes designs along with a few surprise jazzy outfit changes. The colourful lighting and beautiful Set Designs like the Stained-Glass Window of the Convent, this show really is a must see!

We visited on opening night as a family the youngest being 12 and the oldest being …well I won’t say how old, but I can honestly say we all laughed a lot, and would absolutely watch it again.

The show is recommended for ages 10+

we rate this show 5 out of 5

Tickets £22 to £51.50
Nottingham Theatre Royal
Monday 8th May to Saturday 13th May
Book Online – https://trch.co.uk/whats-on/sister-act-2020/#book
or Ring the Box Office on – 0115 9895555
Theatre Royal & Royal Concert Hall, Theatre Square, Nottingham, NG1 5ND