A joyous celebration featuring a heavenly cast — it's fabulous, baby!
Presented by: John Frost for Crossroads Live Australia
Reviewed: 26 March, 2025
Raise your voice, Adelaide — Sister Act has hit the city of churches and it’s a musical triumph. Featuring an absolutely star-studded cast, this production will have you shouting ‘hallelujah!’. It’s high-energy, hilarious and leaves you with such a feel-good feeling.
Based on the iconic film starring Whoopie Goldberg and Dame Maggie Smith, Sister Act follows the trials and tribulations of lounge club singer Deloris Van Cartier (Casey Donovan). After Deloris witnesses a murder, she is placed in protective custody in the last place anyone would look…a convent. Whilst in hiding, she is instructed by the Mother Superior (Genevieve Lemon) to help the convent’s struggling choir to find their voices.
The original music by Tony and 8-time Oscar award-winner, Alan Menken (Disney’s Aladdin, Enchanted, The Little Mermaid) is expertly conducted by musical director Daniel Griffin. The score, which combines styles such as motown, soul and disco, is infectious. You cannot help but dance along in your seat. Griffin conducts a tight and musically talented band (Rainer Pollard, Nick Sinclair, Michael Chewter, Sam Leske, Daniel Burgess, Damien Hurn and Geoff Bradley) who navigate this high-energy score with ease.
At the helm, Casey Donovan is nothing but spectacular as Deloris Van Cartier. When you have a character that is well known, it can be hard to make it your own, but Donovan, along with director Bill Buckhurst, have done a remarkable job. Donovan has made Deloris her own and if you watch carefully, there are plenty of tiny nods to Whoopee Goldberg. Donovan commands your attention, often feeling her presence well before she’s even walked into a scene. She plays the line between confident diva and a scared and vulnerable witness perfectly. Vocally, Donovan is extraordinary. She pulls you in during the ballads and plays with your heart-strings before letting rip during the uptempo numbers. Donovan is quickly becoming one of Australia’s most in-demand leading performers in theatre, and Sister Act is a clear example of why.
Genevieve Lemon is perfectly cast as Mother Superior. Her performance is a masterclass in character development. With so much joy and frivolity happening on stage around her, not once do we see cracks in the stern demeanour of the Mother Superior. Lemon’s voice brings warmth and depth to the role, especially the number Here Within These Walls.
Rhonda Burchmore is hysterical as Sister Mary Lazarus. Burchmore fans are in for a real treat with Sister Act. Swapping the high heels and glamorous gowns for a habit and comfy shoes, Burchmore milks every ounce out of this role and the audience laps it up. This is probably the ‘funkiest’ you will ever see Burchmore — she is a master of her craft.
Sophie Montague, who has only recently graduated from Queensland Academy of Excellence in Musical Theatre, is already leaving a lasting impression on audiences. As the quiet and reserved Sister Mary Roberts, they win your heart. Montague’s voice is exceptional, their version of The Life I Never Led was sublime. The emotional journey they took the audience on through this number alone left goosebumps.
Sally Bourne and Bianca Bruce, as Sister Mary Martin of Tours and Sister Mary Patrick, are also brilliant. Bourne’s blank facial expressions and quirky one-liners regularly bring the house down, as does Bruce’s effervescent characterisations. Raphael Wong as Lieutenant Eddie Souther brings across the dorky character traits in such a wonderful way. Wong’s rendition of I Could Be That Guyis certainly one of the many highlights in this high-energy production.
The nun ensemble is one of the tightest vocal ensembles I have heard in theatre for a long time. Musical director Daniel Griffin has drilled the harmonies brilliantly. The delicate vocal tone in the more traditional church-like numbers through to the belting uptempo pieces, these nuns are an absolute aural feast. Sister Act is one of those musicals where you sometimes don’t know quite where to focus your attention. There are so many moments in this show where there is so much happening in the background with the nuns, you’ll want to see the show a second time just to take it all in.
The remaining cast are also of high standards. Jumping between a huge number of roles, the cast are a delight to watch, Particular favourites include Adam Murphy’s cocky and confident Curtis Jackson (Deloris’s gangster boyfriend), Damien Bermingham’s hip and cool Monsignor O’Hara and the trio of henchmen James Bell, Jordan Angelides and Tom Struik.
The set design by Morgan Large is brilliant and it is only enhanced by the sensational lighting design by Tim Mitchell. Tom Marshall’s sound design is also exceptional, providing the perfect balance between the band and the cast so none of Glenn Slater’s lyrics are missed.
Playing for a limited season at the Festival Theatre, Sister Act is not to be missed. Whether you are a lover of the original film or a fan of musical theatre, this production brings across a wonderful message of love and acceptance. Do yourself a favour – this show is fabulous, baby!
Reviewed by Ben Stefanoff
Venue: Festival Theatre, Adelaide Festival Centre
Season: 22 March – 19 April, 2025
Duration: 2 hours and 30 minutes (Includes one 20-minute interval)
Tickets: From $59.90 (plus booking fees)
Bookings: https://sisteractthemusical.com.au/
Photo credit: Daniel Boud
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