Review: Rollicking romp Sister Act the Musical, brilliant beyond belief

Casey Donovan’s come a long way since winning Australian Idol in 2004. In her latest gig she’s playing a character made famous by Whoopi Goldberg. Here’s our verdict on Sister Act the Musical.

Sister Act. Picture: Adam Head

Praise be to Sister Act.

Casey Donovan is (not-so) pure and simply divine as the devilish Deloris Van Cartier, who finds herself in Our Ladies of Perpetual Sorrow convent after witnessing a murder.

It is a role made famous by Whoopi Goldberg, who starred in the 1992 movie on which this musical is based. With music by Alan Menken and lyrics by Glenn Slater, it is set in the 1970s disco era.

Goldberg is a tough act to follow, but Donovan quickly makes the nightclub singer turned nun on the run her own.

Casey Donovan in Sister Act. Picture: Sam Ruttyn

Sassy and soulful, she soars vocally and has a great sense of comedic timing and physical comedy – as do all the cast.

Playing the straight woman to Donovan, as uptight Mother Superior (immortalised by the late Maggie Smith in the movie), is Genevieve Lemon.

Like Donovan, she makes your forget who came before her in the role.

Lemon’s CV includes stints on soapies, the indie black comedy Sweetie and The Piano, and, once again, she shows her ability to transform herself – seriously shining in her crisis-of-faith solo number I Haven’t Got A Prayer. Lemon also delivers the dry humour, for example, when Mother Superior bemoans the way churches are being turned into theatres.

To her credit, sex-on-legs cabaret star Rhonda Burchmore is almost unrecognisable as Sister Mary Lazarus, until her character breaks out with a scene-stealing rap.

Genevieve Lemon as Mother Superior, Casey Donovan as Deloris Van Cartier and Rhonda Burchmore as Sister Mary Lazarus. Picture: Ian Currie

Bianca Bruce positively pops as Sister Mary Patrick and Sophie Montague is wonderful as wide-eyed Sister Mary Robert.

Looking like Tex Perkins with his seventies suit, mutton chops and mo, Adam Murphy plays a mean Curtis Jackson. As, Derloris’ gangster boyfriend, his rendition of When I Find My Baby – a love song gone wrong when you listen to the lyrics – is the right mix of catchy and creepy.

But Jackson’s henchmen, played by Jordan Angelides, Tom Struik, and James Bell, may well have the standout audience-participation number Lady in the Long Black Dress, which had everyone rolling in the aisles.

Raphael Wong as Eddie Sother. Picture: Adam Head

Raphael Wong, as straight shooting cop Eddie Sother is a gun when it comes to smooth George Benson-esque vocals on I Could Be That Guy.

He also has a costume change up there – for wow factor, if not technology – with Elsa’s during Let It Go in Frozen the Musical.

Like the beautiful set, which makes you feel as though you are in a church, Sister Act’s costumes are simple but effective, becoming increasingly camp as the show comes to its conclusion: Damien Bermingham’s Monsignor O’Hara outfits get a special shout out, along with the bedazzled colourful habits in the finale.

Sister Act media call at QPAC. Pics Adam Head

Whether you’re toe-tapping or bopping in your seat to It’s Good To Be A Nun, Sunday Morning Fever and Bless Our Show, this celebration of sisterhood is an uplifting romp tied up in a sparkly rainbow bow.

Sister Act will make you believe heaven is a place on earth – and that Adelaide’s Festival Theatre is that place. It’s a godsend!

Originally published as Review: Rollicking romp Sister Act the Musical, brilliant beyond belief