Bucks &amp; Oxon

<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" width="943" height="1000" src="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/bucksoxon/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2023/06/SISTER-ACT.-Sandra-Marvin-Deloris-Van-Cartier.-Photo-by-Manuel-Harlan-943x1000.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-146578" srcset="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/bucksoxon/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2023/06/SISTER-ACT.-Sandra-Marvin-Deloris-Van-Cartier.-Photo-by-Manuel-Harlan-943x1000.jpg 943w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/bucksoxon/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2023/06/SISTER-ACT.-Sandra-Marvin-Deloris-Van-Cartier.-Photo-by-Manuel-Harlan-755x800.jpg 755w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/bucksoxon/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2023/06/SISTER-ACT.-Sandra-Marvin-Deloris-Van-Cartier.-Photo-by-Manuel-Harlan-377x400.jpg 377w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/bucksoxon/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2023/06/SISTER-ACT.-Sandra-Marvin-Deloris-Van-Cartier.-Photo-by-Manuel-Harlan-495x525.jpg 495w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/bucksoxon/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2023/06/SISTER-ACT.-Sandra-Marvin-Deloris-Van-Cartier.-Photo-by-Manuel-Harlan.jpg 1000w" sizes="(max-width: 943px) 100vw, 943px" /></figure>



New Theatre Oxford seems to pull in the lion&#8217;s share of top touring musicals in the region and Sister Act, based on the 1991 Whoopi Goldberg film (can it really be over 30 years ago?!) is the latest feel-good classic to reach the theatre. 



Sister Act was given its first London showing in 2009, and has seen several national tours in its time, so audiences know what they&#8217;re getting from this Olivier-nominated show &#8211; basically, a comedic romp about Doloris van Cartier, a brassy, party-loving disco diva who sees her gangster boyfriend shoot one of his gang, knows he&#8217;s coming for her next as she&#8217;s a witness, and goes into hiding as nun Sister Mary Clarence at the local convent.



<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" width="667" height="1000" src="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/bucksoxon/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2023/06/2.-SISTER-ACT.-The-Company.-Photo-Manuel-Harlan-667x1000.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-146577" srcset="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/bucksoxon/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2023/06/2.-SISTER-ACT.-The-Company.-Photo-Manuel-Harlan-667x1000.jpg 667w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/bucksoxon/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2023/06/2.-SISTER-ACT.-The-Company.-Photo-Manuel-Harlan-533x800.jpg 533w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/bucksoxon/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2023/06/2.-SISTER-ACT.-The-Company.-Photo-Manuel-Harlan-267x400.jpg 267w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/bucksoxon/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2023/06/2.-SISTER-ACT.-The-Company.-Photo-Manuel-Harlan-350x525.jpg 350w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/bucksoxon/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2023/06/2.-SISTER-ACT.-The-Company.-Photo-Manuel-Harlan.jpg 1000w" sizes="(max-width: 667px) 100vw, 667px" /></figure>



The presiding, uptight Mother Superior (Maggie Smith in the original film) is performed by Lesley Joseph who is quite the phenomenon &#8211; excellent comic timing as you&#8217;d expect, but also strong vocals and the ability to give depth and emotion to what is one of the few nuanced roles in this often slap-stick musical. If she rather walks through her involvements in any dance routines, at 77 years old I think we can grant forgiveness on that one.



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The heavy lifting in terms of musical numbers lands squarely on Sandra Martin&#8217;s shoulders as Deloris. The former Emmerdale actress has carved out a strong career in musical theatre since her departure in 2019 (other roles include Hairspray in the West End, City of Angels at the Donmar Warehouse and acting/backing vocals for Kate Bush&#8217;s tour). 



Martin has an incredible voice, rich, soul-infused, effortless in the higher range but just as importantly as the star of the show, she has charisma, strong acting chops and excellent comic timing. You root for her all the way through, and in the second half of the show, when she comes to realise how much she cares for her friends at the convent, you believe it. 



There&#8217;s strong support in Lizzie Bea (whose own credits include playing Tracy Tumbold in Hairspray at the London Coliseum) as conflicted young nun Sister Mary Robert with a pure, effortless vocal range that brought one of the biggest cheers of the night with her rendition of The Life I Never Led, as she wonders about what is on offer outside the confines of the convent.



<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" width="667" height="1000" src="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/bucksoxon/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2023/06/4.-SISTER-ACT.-Lizzie-Bea-Sister-Mary-Robert.-Photo-Manuel-Harlan-667x1000.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-146576" srcset="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/bucksoxon/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2023/06/4.-SISTER-ACT.-Lizzie-Bea-Sister-Mary-Robert.-Photo-Manuel-Harlan-667x1000.jpg 667w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/bucksoxon/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2023/06/4.-SISTER-ACT.-Lizzie-Bea-Sister-Mary-Robert.-Photo-Manuel-Harlan-533x800.jpg 533w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/bucksoxon/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2023/06/4.-SISTER-ACT.-Lizzie-Bea-Sister-Mary-Robert.-Photo-Manuel-Harlan-267x400.jpg 267w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/bucksoxon/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2023/06/4.-SISTER-ACT.-Lizzie-Bea-Sister-Mary-Robert.-Photo-Manuel-Harlan-350x525.jpg 350w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/bucksoxon/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2023/06/4.-SISTER-ACT.-Lizzie-Bea-Sister-Mary-Robert.-Photo-Manuel-Harlan.jpg 1000w" sizes="(max-width: 667px) 100vw, 667px" /><figcaption>Lizzie Bea as Sister Mary Robert</figcaption></figure>



However, the highlight of Sister Act for me goes to the men. The gangster Curtis (played by Mark Goldthorp) and his dumb retinue of Pablo, Joey and TJ, have several comedic numbers and they rinse them for all they&#8217;re worth. When I Find My Baby subverts the love song with Curtis singing with grisly detail exactly how he wants to kill his ex-lover whilst his trio of thugs perform Franki Valli and the Four Seasons&#8217; style moves and harmonies behind him. Even funnier in the second half is Lady in the Long Dress, where Pablo, Joey and TJ sing about how they plan to seduce their way into the convent. 



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Also a mention to Alfie Parker as Eddie Souther, the sergeant in love with Doloris, whose number I Could Be That Guy, complete with dancing policeman in glitter helmets and mirrored aviator glasses. Very George Michael and very funny.



The show felt tight and professional with strength and depth from supporting cast, the live orchestra (whose conductor popped up for a cameo as Pope John Paul II), and a set that was simple but effective &#8211; dominated by the Church&#8217;s huge circular window in dire need of repair with often everything moved altogether for the musical numbers. 



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For me the second half of the show was a little slow in places &#8211; three solo numbers out of five as the musical tried to ratchet up the emotion. The reality is that you&#8217;re looking for character growth and emotional depth you&#8217;re at the wrong show. The crowd knew what they were coming for, and were on their feet in the final number and stayed up for a long, whooping ovation at the end. In a world currently full of Putin and coups and NHS woes and mortgage nightmares, maybe nuance is over-rated, and Sister Act could be just the feel-good escapism you need.



Catch ’Sister Act&#8217; at New Theatre Oxford from Mon 26 June to Sat 1 July. 24-26 George St, Oxford OX1 2AG. <a href="https://www.atgtickets.com/shows/sister-act/new-theatre-oxford/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Buy tickets here</a>.

Review: Sister Act, New Theatre Oxford

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