Sister Act, Leeds Grand

The saying goes better late than never; well this is certainly the case for this review. I apologise it has taken me so long to get around to writing it. This will be a shorter review than normal as I have two more to write and by the time Saturday gets here I will have an additional two to add to the list; it’s been a very busy time in theatre land and everything else that has been going on. About four years ago, jokes, on 26^th August 2016 myself and one of my best friends Emma Notta went to Leeds Grand Theatre to see the touring production of Sister Act. This was not a typical night in Leeds as we had to get to Suffolk the next day to celebrate Mother’s birthday with a BBQ so there was no partying after the show like usual. We went down early and parked up, always entering Leeds a completely different way to the countless times we have been before which I always find hilarious. Finally we found the usual car park and had a couple drinks and tea at a well-known cheap and cheerful pub before strolling back to the theatre to see Sister Act.

Sister Act, a divine musical comedy, is of course based on the 1992 film of the same name, starring the fabulous Whoopi Goldberg. It tells the story of club night singer, Delores Van Cartier, who witnesses her lover kill off one of his men. Delores is rushed into hiding to protect herself so she can testify against this murderous villain. The best place to hide the inconspicuous is of course a nunnery and that is exactly where Delores becomes Sister Mary Clarence. Although Delores and the Mother Superior do not quite see eye to eye, Delores is a blessing in disguise and when she teaches the choir how to sing, not so typical church melodies that is, the church receives enough donations to keep afloat and some unlikely friendships blossom. Sister Act first arrived at the West End in 2009, before previewing in America but not New York. It arrived on Broadway two years later in 2011. A touring production in the UK started the same year and it has been produced countless times in many other countries. I had yet to see any of it but really wanted to especially when the music is composed by musical legend Alan Menken. Although nominated for four 2010 Olivier’s and five 2011 Tony’s, Sister Act failed to pick up a single award.  

This production of Sister Act stars Alexandra Burke, who has become a well-loved favourite of the stage of both mine and Emma’s. We first saw her at the Norwich Theatre Royal earlier in the year when she was starring in the touring production of the Bodyguard (AMAZING!). Although an average fan of her music before I never knew how talented she was live. Her vocals are so impressive and she really blasts out a tune. What I didn’t expect and you don’t see in the Bodyguard is Burke’s comedy streak. Me and Emma were in stitches, and not just on one occasion I hasten to add. The bit for me was when she first meets the sisters’ dressed in her habit and she is so funny how she meets and greets them, disco style. Really classic performance by Burke and I cannot wait to see her in something else, either touring or in the West End. It is very difficult to outshine a star like Burke, but the rest of the cast were great and you can tell they really enjoy themselves on that stage. Although I enjoy a cast playing instruments on stage this kind of felt a little forced at times and a little unnatural so not sure on this aspect of Sister Act. Eddie, the cop and love interest is played by Jon Robyns, Sister Mary Lazarus (Rosemary Ashe) is another classic comedic performance and her rapping is better than Kayne West and P Diddy in my opinion. Sister Mary Robert, the quiet and timid sister is portrayed by Sarah Goggin who has to belt out a tune in Act 2; Susannah Van Den Berg plays Sister Mary Patrick, the larger than life character who again brings the comedic value to the stage. Sandy Grigelis plays TJ, one of the cronies of Curtis (Aaron Lee Lambert), and he was adorable and stupid, playing TJ how he should be played.

The original score of Sister Act is fantastic and it was only a few days after the show I had to download this album and play it again to hear all those wonderful songs. I have listened to the album non-stop for nearly a month and I absolutely love it. And you can guess why it is addictive; Alan Menken writes the upbeat disco music with the lyrics of Glenn Slater; who had teamed in the past to compose the Broadway production of The Little Mermaid. My favourite song is ‘Fabulous, Baby!’ and its reprise which I have sung and sung and sung. Other Sister Act classics that keep you singing include ‘Take Me To Heaven’, ‘How I Got The Calling’, ‘When I Find My Baby’, ‘I Could Be That Guy’, ‘Raise Your Voice’, ‘Sunday Morning Fever’ (My favourite lyric being shake it like your Mary Magdalen (lol!), ‘The Life I Never Led’ and the fantastic finale ‘Spread The Love Around’. Honestly it is a fabulous score, you would never think it original and you can hear some of the songs in the film version but it was all original work by Slater and Menken. This production was directed and choreographed by Craig Revel Horwood with musical supervisor and arranger Sarah Travis and set and costume design by Matthew Wright.

Sister Act is currently playing in Bristol and there are still chances to see this show in Milton Keynes, Glasgow, Liverpool, Ipswich, Belfast, Dublin, London (New Wimbledon), Cambridge, Brighton, Sheffield, Nottingham, Bradford, Wolverhampton, Northampton, Edinburgh and plenty of other places. The tour is due to run until 27^th August next year where it ends in Blackpool. Also I am aware that many amateur productions of Sister Act are gracing the stages around the country and I am sure this would be a lovely thing to see and hear. It is a feel good musical full of wonderful comedy and music and you will keep you singing for weeks after, I promise you. Please get in touch on Twitter at AaronBurgess89.