Sequins and stained glass windows come to the Wolverhampton Grand Theatre in Sister Act, a divine musical comedy.  

Lesley Joseph stars as formidable Mother Superior, in less than heavenly circumstances. Money is tight, and the roof of her convent is ‘holy’ in more ways than one. She prays for help, which arrives in the unlikely form of Deloris Van Cartier (Sandra Marvin), a singer who dreams of stardom from the stage of a seedy nightclub: she’s Fabulous, Baby!

Deloris has witnessed a murder committed by her devious boyfriend, Curtis (Mark Goldthorp). Reunited with Eddie Souther  (Alfie Parker), an old school friend who is now a cop, she is sent to the nunnery and disguised for her own protection. Mother Superior is appalled, and suggests that Deloris join the choir to keep her busy, worried that she will teach the other nuns some bad habits...

The music, performed by a live orchestra under Neil Macdonald’s musical direction, matches the 1970s setting, with nods to disco favourites and the queens of Soul. The songs, by Alan Menken (music) and Glenn Slater (lyrics), are perfectly pitched to showcase the talented performers on stage. And it’s fun to hear godly choral music transition into ‘Sunday Morning Fever’.

The sisters steal the show, of course, but the men have their moment in the spotlight as well. Eddie Souther’s dramatic ballad (with a twist) becomes one of the highlights, and Curtis’ three bumbling henchmen sing about the best way to go about wooing a nun; irreverent and inept, with a hint of the Bee Gees.

Together, Lesley Joseph and Sandra Marvin match each other, bursting with energy and representing opposite sides of the same coin. There are plenty of moments to make you laugh out loud, and a couple of very moving scenes as well. Some of the jokes are a bit out-dated, but it’s a ’70s throwback from start to finish, and it feels like part of the fun. 

Morgan Large, as set and costume designer, also sends us back in time, courtesy of large flares, lapels, and platform shoes. 

By the end, there is a riot of glitter on stage - everyone’s costume is bedazzled and fabulous. The nightclub-style lights are spectacular, and there are three disco balls front and centre for added sparkle! Four stars

Reviewed by Jessica Clixby at Wolverhampton Grand Theatre, Monday 5 June where the show runs until Saturday (10 June). It shows later this year at Regent Theatre, Stoke-on-Trent, Monday 25 - Saturday 30 September and Belgrade Theatre, Coventry, Monday 9 - Saturday 14 October.