
When I saw this production at the Hammersmith Eventim Apollo in August 2022 with an all-star cast including Jennifer Saunders, Keala Settle and Beverley Knight it was a glitzy star-driven show with ticket prices up to £250 to justify and while enjoyable I noted that the show was designed for the UK Tour to follow and would represent much better value in regional venues around the UK. The tour arrived at the New Victoria Woking this week with a full house on a Monday night with a top price of £62 and proved that it is a wonderful feel-good party night out. The tour will now continue until April 2024 with 24 more venues to visit so there are plenty of opportunities to get a party together to go and enjoy the show.
The Hammersmith cast largely continues on the tour with Lesley Joseph stepping up as Mother Superior to replace Jennifer Saunders, Sandra Marvin moving from alternate Deloris Van Cartier to replace Beverley Knight and Catherine Millsom stepping up as Sister Mary Patrick to replace Keala Settle. Overall, the band and ensemble are reduced to make it more economical to tour but the show still delivers a fun, nostalgic and uplifting night out and is no less enjoyable despite the absence of the headline stars.

Lesley Joseph is wonderful as Mother Superior demonstrating all her brilliant comic timing and delivering her songs with great poignancy, charm and a touch of humour. Her stage experience shines through, and her natural stage presence holds you spellbound as she slowly melts in her acceptance of Deloris who the show revolves around. Sandra Marvin may not have the charisma of Beverley Knight as the would-be cabaret singer and gangster’s moll Deloris Van Cartier, but she steadily blossoms on stage as her character develops and is a triumph by the end of Act two. She delivers a succession of powerful soulful seventies tunes from her first appearance with “Take me to heaven” and “Fabulous, Baby” through to the show-defining “Sister Act” and the uplifting “Raise your voice”.

The Production is slickly staged and lit with flown panels with built-in lights, enough architecture to suggest the interior of the Nunnery and simple settings for the Police station, Eddie’s spare bedroom or a local bar. The stage does look empty at times, but it leaves plenty of space for the set-piece routines. Director Bill Buckhurst and choreographer Alistair David ensure the pace is maintained and there are some lovely touches like the chase of the rickshaw, Souther’s quick costume change and the final gunfight in the convent. The Finale costumes by Morgan Large are a gloriously glittering rainbow twist to the usual nun’s habit that naturally brings the show to a celebratory conclusion.

Review by Nick Wayne
Rating: ★★★★
Seat: Stalls, Row F | Price of Ticket: £62