Sister Act - UK Tour

Hmmm. I just got out. I was excited to see this as my friend booked it for me as a birthday present. I do have to agree with a lot of stuff on here though. Some bits were great and I liked Alexandra much more than I thought I would. However, some bits were just.. odd. I didn't love the book and some of the choreography / direction wasn't my favourite either.

Raise your voice was showstopping but I felt that it dipped before and after that bit sadly.

Cast was great. I'm a big fan of Jon Robyns and loved him in this.Especially his song which got a big round of applause! Aaron Lee Lambert had a lovely voice but the character felt a bit panto. The actress playing mother superior was very good but all of her songs in act two seemed to slow everything down.The three hench men were panto again but very funny.

Overall I had a nice time, but felt that the production overall didn't wow me. Especially as so many people have said that it's there favourite show. Oh but I did like the actor musician element.

I keep forgetting to book for this.

A bootleg of the 2011 UK Tour with Cynthia Erivo as Deloris has appeared on YouTube - the same guy who uploaded the Legally Blonde London bootleg. It's really fab. Brilliant cast and Cynthia especially is great. Most of the comedy is getting completely lost, though, with only a few big laughs. I'll never understand why the felt the need to change the show (not the obvious downsizing from the Palladium, but the actual changing of the script/songs etc) as much as they did from the Palladium production.

Trailer looks good. Wish I'd enjoyed this show more. It comes to Canterbury next summer so I may try and give it another go then? It'll have had a cast change by then so that at least will be interesting to see.

I'd like a new cast album though, just because I like to have recordings of the casts of shows I see, if possible.

Saw yesterday's matinee in Milton Keynes.

Have to agree with others that it just doesn't "wow", although I should add that I saw the alternate not Alexandra. (Too tight to buy I programme so I'm not sure of her name, I'm afraid). She had a good voice, but her acting wasn't great and she just didn't hold the stage somehow.

Did enjoy Jon Robyns' performance and overall the whole thing was fun, but I wouldn't recommend rushing to book...

Interestingly, Craig has said in another interview that he was originally approached to have input into the London Palladium production of the show, but he couldn't do it at the time as he had other commitments. He also said that the scaling back a bit for this production is deliberate, to better reflect the spirit of the original movie. He also commented that he didn't think it would be plausible for nuns in a cash strapped convent to have such ostentatious glittery costumes for the whole show (as used in other productions). Though I suppose the same could be said for the musical instruments! 

I watched the bootleg of the show with Cynthia on YouTube. She is just fantastic, though due to the quality of the video, it's hard to get a proper sense of the look of the show.

I was surprised to read the kerfuffle earlier in the thread about elements of the script used in this production, when the script used in Cynthia's production is identical. There seemed to be a suggestion that there were new jokes included here. It goes without saying that I'm not a fan of the word 'negro' but it's obviously used to reflect the time period involved and the views of that particular nun. Similar to the use in 'Hairspray', it is evoking the particular era. I do think the book for the Palladium production is that bit funnier, though. Also, 'How I Got the Calling' is better than 'Good to be a Nun.' Also, love 'Do The Sacred Mass' which went on the chopping board. 

I didn't spend a lot of time reading it, but that was my impression.

I'll take your word for it. 

Sister act was the first thing I ever saw Cynthia in! She was phenomenal

Lots of trouble to go to for the sake of two weeks at two venues where AB isn't performing.

Of course it will come in handy when if Alexandra leaves early 

Joanna is terrific.

When AB did the Bodyguard, there was a trailer with Zoe Birkett, too.

Joanna is doing two matinees per week, too, so it's good that people will have a flavour for her performance, particularly if they want to shift tickets. I'm sure there will be some who would rather see Joanna than Alexandra.

I've never seen Alexandra live, but I saw Joanna and she looks rather young and just the right age for the part. Judging by 2 videos I would say it is Alexandra who looks older (but I would be judging by the videos).

Just saw the show last night and tonight in Belfast.

As a huge fan of the original production/1st UK tour...I actually really enjoyed this production.

Really more gritty and realistic than the glittery specticle of the previous productions.

Alexandra Burke sang and acted the role really well, compared to what I was expecting after seeing her in The Bodyguard. Although she still has the habit of putting her finger in her ear during high notes and key changes in the middle of songs. She really has the comedy timing for the role.

I am also happy to say that I have now finally seen Jon Robyns in a show, been a fan of his for years, but never managed to see him in anything before.

Loved Aaron Lee Lambert as Curtis, previously saw him understudy the role back in London. And his 3 stooges were great.

Rosemary Ashe was great as Mary Lazarus...and really enjoyed Mary Robert (can't remember the actress' name).

Took a while to warm up to the Mother Superior...she seemed to always play angry and bitter...and I just kept thinking back to the time I saw Whoopi Goldberg in the role, everytime she was on stage. But by Act 2, I had grown to like her portrayal, especially during her solo.

Overall...I am really glad I enjoyed it...after suffering through the new stahing of Ghost a couple of weeks ago, I was worried that I wouldn't enjoy this. But thankfully I did, to the point I have now booked tickets for when it returns to Belfast next year.