Hallelujah! it was just what the audience had prayed for – a bright and hip swinging Monday night out.
Sister Act is dubbed a divine musical comedy and the “congregation” at the King’s Theatre in Glasgow were on their feet rejoicing after being entertained with top class acting and singing, with a bit of slap-stick humour thrown in for good measure.
The long running show has seen frequent cast changes and Glasgow was in for a treat with Landi Oshinowo starring as Deloris Van Cartier. Landi was originally understudy in the part during a run at London’s Palladium but was really in her element as the main lady.
With confidence oozing and a cracking voice, Landi was first class and only outshined by Alfie Parker, “steady” Eddie Souther, who clearly relished his role as her police protector and had the audience in stitches with his antics.
The musical tale centres on Deloris, a sassy lounge singer, who is forced to retreat to the safety of a convent after witnessing her gangster boyfriend commit murder.
Her big personality sees Deloris shake up the convent and the subdued nature of her fellow nuns and before long, she has transformed the choir from a bunch of out of tuners to a professional outfit.
Deloris’s interference in the way the convent is run is frowned upon by the Mother Superior played by Coronation Street stalwart Sue Cleaver. Although she plays her role well, Sue does not have as powerful voice as Landi and so her presence is slightly shaded by Landi and Alfie.
But the show is all about the music based on the original 1992 film starring Whoopi Goldberg and the audience loved the numbers, especially Take Me to Heaven and Raise Your Voice.
A bright, colourful set with equally sparkling costumes by Morgan Large and musical excellence from Alan Menken made it a real showstopper.
The fellow nuns played by Eloise Runnette (the wallflower turned star Sister Mary Robert), Julie Stark (Sister Mary Lazarus), Isabel Canning (Sister Mary Patrick), Kate Powell (Sister Mary Martin of Tours), Wendy-Lee Purdy (Sister Mary Thersa) are joined by the excellent Phillip Arran as Monsignor O’Hara, who clearly loved his dazzling role.
Ian Gareth-Jones is a convincing Curtis Jackson, Deloris’s gangster boyfriend and his henchmen are played by Callum Martin (Joey), Michalis Antoniou (Pablo) and Elliot Gooch (TJ).
Smaller roles were played by Esme Laudat (Michelle), Amber Kennedy (Tina) and Harvey Ebbage (Clemont), Joseph Connor (cop/bartender), along with onstage swing Ceris Hine, Sheri Lineham, Samuel John Humphreys and Corrine Priest helping the show to be real manna from heaven for the audience.
Sister Act runs at the King’s Theatre in Glasgow until Saturday, 4th May 2024 with tickets available via www.atgtickets.com.
Author Bio:
Rebecca Hay is an experienced travel writer and member of The British Guild of Travel Writers. Follow her adventures with her family on Twitter and Instagram @emojiadventurer and on Facebook via EmojiAdventurers2.
Photographs by Mark Senior
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