Alan Menken is one of my favourite songwriters and composers and is the smarts behind the gorgeous songs in the movies and stage counterparts of The Little Mermaid, Beauty and the Beast, Aladdin, Hercules and Little Shop of Horrors to name a few. I realise the reason I adore musicals to this date is because of him. I also grew up cackling on the couch to Whoopi Goldberg movies with my family, and Sister Act is by far one of my favourites of her work. What I did not expect was that these two separate and very wonderful things would eventually combine to create Sister Act the Musical.
Proudly produced by John Frost for Crossroads Live, along with Shake & Stir Theatre Co and PowerArts, with music by Alan Menken, lyrics by Glenn Slater, and book by Cheri and Bill Steinkellner, Sister Act has finally made its Melbourne debut this November at the Regent Theatre.
Starring Casey Donovan as the titular role of Deloris Van Cartier, Donovan knocks it out of the park as the sassy songstress down on her luck and trying to escape her gangster lover Curtis Jackson (James Bryers) when she witnesses a murder.
With no family or friends to help her out, Deloris turns to the police and is reunited with old school mate Eddie Sother (Raphael Wong) who is now a respectable police officer. However, the story doesn’t really feel like it starts until Deloris is taken to church under witness protection to hide in a convent amongst nuns. It sounds ridiculous, but really, the plan is genius! There, she meets Monsignor O’Hara (Damien Bermingham), and Genevive Lemon’s Mother Superior, where the latter reluctantly accepts taking Deloris in at Our Ladies of Perpetual Sorrow for the sake of the church, as the police are making a hefty donation to hide Deloris.
When Deloris finally meets her sisters for the first time under the disguise of Sister Mary Clarence, that’s when the show feels it’s beginning to gain momentum.
There are varying differences in the musical in comparison to its film counterpart. The story has been extended, giving its supporting characters their own songs and time to shine in the spotlight while conjuring laughter from its audience. Usually with musicals, one would often feel that these supporting characters and their songs are just fillers but it never feels that way with Sister Act. We actually care about these characters, even the bad guys and want to hear what they have to say and sing about.
Fun songs from supporting characters includes Bryer’s Curtis sings with his henchmen ‘When I Find My Baby’ which sounds like a catchy love song, until you listen carefully to the eye-opening lyrics. The henchmen, consisting of Joey, Pablo and TJ, played respectively by Jordan Angelides, Tom Struik, and James Bell, also have their own funny song together with ‘Lady in the Long Black Dress’ which had patrons cackling in the aisles.
The sisters in the convent in this stage version seem to be more of a community and supportive than what Whoopi Goldberg’s Deloris had to deal with. It helps that the actresses in the Melbourne season playing the nuns are effortlessly fun, camp and a humorous delight. Australian living theatre legend Rhonda Burchmore is an undeniable scene stealer as Sister Mary Lazarus, killing it and slaying with her unexpected fierce and fast raps. I am convinced that Burchmore really can do anything and she’s genuinely having a damn good time while doing all of it.
Bianca Bruce is the perfect Sister Mary Patrick, right down to the super chirpy signature facial expressions and booming voice, Sophie Montague shines as the soft and sweet Sister Mary Robert with their equally as impressive vocals. Emma Powell and Sally Bourne are also great as senior nuns Sister Mary Teresa and Sister Mary Martin of Tours.
Deloris also has another love interest in nice guy Eddie Sother, exquisitely played by Raphael Wong. With smooth vocals and just as suave dance moves, Wong shines in his captivating and underdog solo ‘I Could Be That Guy’. The chemistry between Donovan and Wong does feel a little awkward and forced, however I believe that perhaps this is intentional, given the circumstances of the story and their relationship. Although, I would have liked for their progression to have felt more convincing, this is through no fault of the cast and is more so the script itself, which honestly could be more cohesive (some scene transitions were very questionable) and has already been amended a few times since Sister Act was initially staged in 2006.
And then there’s the serious to everyone else’s silly, Genevive Lemon is divine as Mother Superior. I loved her portrayal of the character, who is still funny, and was made famous on screen by the late Maggie Smith.
While the rest of the musical consists of up-beat and disco 70s style tunes, Mother Superior’s parts are intentionally written and composed in a classical musical style to differentiate the character’s more traditional views and humble ways in comparison to Deloris’ modern and super passionate touch. It’s subtle but very, very clever. A lot of the music felt like an expansion of the work that Alan Menken wrote and composed for the animated movie Hercules, it’s all very catchy and makes you want to bounce along to.
The costuming is flawless, in particular the sparkly numbers that the nuns wear at the end. Stunning. The detail in the set design and lighting, especially the projection on the walls of the Regent Theatre prior to the show, make you feel like you’ve entered a church, as everything is made to look like beautiful stained glass windows with all its colours. However, the staging doesn’t really change much at all, so for those used to theatrical tricks and magic, or more variety, this set may leave a lot to be desired.
It’s hard to believe that Casey Donovan is in her first leading lady role after being a staple in musical theatre over the past few years. It’s long overdue and well deserved. Her natural comic timing and phenomenal vocals make her ideal to play the iconic role of Deloris Van Cartier. You like her Deloris, you want her to do well and succeed, and while it’s a little weird in this version of Sister Act that Deloris isn’t even singing in Curtis’ club yet and wants a job (weird plot change for the stage counterpart), when Casey Donovan’s supreme vocals pierce the air at Melbourne’s Regent Theatre, you pay attention. Deloris demands it, she needs it, she lives and breathes music much like the actress who portrays her, and honestly, Casey Donovan has never been better.
You don’t have to be familiar with the movie to enjoy this comedy musical. In fact, it’s probably better to not watch the film before the show and to take in this stage adaptation on its own merit. Silly, camp and fun, with a solid cast, incredible vocals, and some great songs including hero song ‘Raise Your Voice’ and the ever catchy ‘Take Me To Heaven’, Sister Act is a joyous and divine good time for all.
Sister Act the Musical is currently on at Melbourne’s Regent Theatre until January 26.
For more information and ticketing, visit:
https://sisteractthemusical.com.au
Photography by Grant Alexander.
