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Take Me To
Heaven
Sister Act
Sunderland Empire
Until Saturday 10th
September 2016
Based
upon the 1992 film starring Whoopi Goldberg, Sister Act continues to be a
really popular musical today. Helped by being a feel good musical with a great
storyline that audiences like. Add plenty of funny moments and you have a show
that’s well worth seeking out at the Sunderland Empire this week.
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Photo: Jay Brooks
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In
this 2016 production X-Factor winner Alexandra Burke appears in the lead role
as Deloris. She is a club singer who has to disappear under the witness
protection scheme after she witnessed a murder. The police decide to hide her
in the local convent, but in order to stay off the radar until the court case,
she has to adopt the life style of a nun. Much of the humour comes from the
difference in routine between the expectations of the Mother Superior and the
lady who is used to living the high life. Add into the mix the fact that the
nun’s choir usually sing any note but the right one and you’re in for a fun
show.
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Photo: Tristram Kenton
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Strictly
Come Dancing’s Craig Revel Horwood has directed and choreographed this
production. The show feels much more mid-70s Soul Train rather than 80s blockbuster film and is much better for
it. Aaron Lee Lambert’s club owning Curtis and policeman ‘Sweaty’ Eddie both
have numbers which hit a real groove and help set the scene and help establish
the era.Likewise Karen Mann plays a great Mother Superior and really holds her
own in her solo numbers, playing them with great pathos. Rosemary Ashe is
frequently funny as the former leader of the choir Sister Mary Lazarus.
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| Photo: Tristram Kenton |
Alexandra
Burke deserves top billing as her ability to both sing and act shows she
definitely has the X Factor, unlike many of her contemporaries from the show.
She really does a cracking job.
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| Photo: Tristram Kenton |
The
set design by Matthew Wright is highly effective in enabling the action to
flow. Special mention should also go to Richard Brooker for his sound design as
he managed to create that echo/reverb that one often gets in a large church.
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| Photo: Tristram Kenton |
The
majority of the cast also play the instruments in stage and this seems to be a
trend in recent musical tours. It is a really positive to see live music being
played on stage rather than use of backing tracks and the use of many musicians
can help with the big band feel of that era of disco. It does however lead to a
situation in which the gang members are walking around with guitars or nuns
having saxophones whilst doing their speaking parts. The music throughout the
show was, under musical director Greg Arrowsmith, spot on with some really
skilful violin solos being up there with the big disco numbers.
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| Photo: Tristram Kenton |
The
only issue I had was each principle character seemed to have their own full
production number at the end about how they were feeling ahead of the grand
finale and this took some pace out of the ending.
Sister
Act has been freshened up for this tour. It feels happy with its groove thing
and the end result is a really fun show to watch. Alexandra Burke leads a
talented ensemble that kept the audience in a happy mood under those mirror
balls.
Read
the original North East Theatre Guide preview: http://nomorepanicbutton.blogspot.co.uk/2016/07/preview-sister-act-at-sunderland-empire.html
Tickets:
Tickets available
from the Box Office on High Street West, via the ticket centre 0844 871
3022* or www.ATGtickets.com/Sunderland *calls cost up to 7p per minute plus
standard network charges. Booking and transaction fees may apply to telephone
and online bookings.
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