Blessed be the Petersfield Theatre Group, for they shall inherit the Festival Hall stage.
Forgive the proliferation of puns in this review, but this show was a revelation. A joyous, toe-tapping affair that took its audience to heaven and is worthy of considerable praise.
Most of the congregation knew the story, but here’s quick sermon for the unconverted. Disco diva Deloris (the fabulous Hannah Evans) is sent by the Philadelphia PD to a quiet convent for safety after she witnesses her boyfriend murder an informant, but she doesn’t embrace the quiet life, fasting and endless bowls of mutton.
Instead, she gives the choir a Lazarus-like makeover, attracting new churchgoers, TV crews, the Pope and the attention of mobster Curtis (Mark Maclaine) and his henchmen.
Evans was terrific as the energetic and street-smart Deloris who breathes new life into the choir.
Its awakening under her tutelage in Raise Your Voice was a delight to watch and hear, while the following Take Me To Heaven was a joy on so many levels, from the disbelieving reaction of the open mouthed Mother Superior (Mikki Magorian) to the boogying of Monsignor O’Hara (Phil Murphy).
While the big numbers and choir pieces – which boasted some really nice harmonies, by the way – attracted the biggest cheers, some of the more poignant numbers left a memory.
Philly cop ‘Sweaty’ Eddie (Jack Mason) showed a real sensitivity, albeit with a smattering of disco, in I Could Be That Guy while Sister Mary Robert (Fleur Ash) boasts a set of pipes that could rival any church organ, with her vocals in The Life I Never Led reaching heavenly heights.
Audiences will love the self deprecation and rapping skills of Sister Mary Lazarus (Mary Carmichael) while henchmen Joey, TJ and Pablo (Geoff Wootton, Si Crates and Jon Cole) raised the biggest laugh with their seductive Lady in the Long Black Dress. It was smoother than a freshly opened tub of Philadelphia cream cheese.
The fairly simple set, with large cathedral walls surrounding the stage, allowed plenty of room for large numbers and changeable scenes.
And although some vocals occasionally struggled to rise above the music, as is often the case in Festival Hall, they were never drowned out with musical director Gareth Baynham-Hughes and his team providing an immaculate score.
Raise your voice and rejoice – we can testify this performance was second to nun. Amen.
*The Post reviewed the Wednesday, May 15 performance of Sister Act at Petersfield Festival Hall. A limited number of tickets are available for their Saturday matinee and evening shows at the time of writing.