Review by Markus Hamence – Performance date: Wednesday 26 March 2025, Adelaide Festival Centre, Adelaide, South Australia
Hallelujah… Sister Act Shimmies Into Adelaide – A Divine Dose of Glitter and Gospel
You know what?, when a musical opens with sequins, soul, and a disco ball, you know you’re in for a good time. Sister Act: The Musical has kicked off it’s run at Adelaide’s Festival Theatre, and friends, it’s a party and it’s a full-blown spiritual awakening… with jazz hands baby!
Casey Donovan: The Gospel According to Diva
Casey Donovan takes on the iconic role of Deloris Van Cartier, and she doesn’t just fill those sparkly heels – she struts in them. Casey takes on this character with a confident charm and owns every single minute of it. From the moment she belts her first note, the audience is spellbound. Her voice? Divine (pun intended). Her comedic timing? Heavenly (again haha). It’s no small feat following in the footsteps of Whoopi Goldberg, but Casey brings her own magic – equal parts sass, soul and pure heart. It’s fabulous to see Casey’s career take off in the musical theatre realm, she has the chops and the charisma to deliver and make these roles she takes on truly work and be believable.
Nuns That Steal the Show
Honestly, every single nun on stage deserves their own halo. Genevieve Lemon as Mother Superior is the perfect salty-sweet foil to Deloris’ firecracker energy. Genevieve as Mother Superior is a pro and her frustration with Delores is executed perfectly before us. Australian stage & screen star Rhonda Burchmore has comedic gold running through her habit as Sister Mary Lazarus – her hip-hop breakdown had the audience howling. Rhonda takes on Lazarus’ voice and is a world away from her signature smooth style. Burchmore has entered the character, creating a new personality, quite opposite of her own, that influenced not only the lines delivered but also staying consistent with the songs she took on in her role. And Sophie Montague as Sister Mary Robert? Her solo nearly levitated the roof.
The entire cast are magnificent. Each bring their own piece on NUNsense to the musical with respectful nods of course to the original movie characters. Bravo.
Music to Raise the Roof (and Your Spirits)
Alan Menken’s original score is much more than simply catchy – it’s an all-out masterful celebration. Think Motown meets Sunday service, with a glittery disco twist. While it strays heavily from the film’s original soundtrack, it easily finds its own groove that engages you. Songs like Take Me to Heaven and Fabulous, Baby! had people dancing in their seats.
Costumes, Choreography & Church Bells
Costume changes are practically a religious experience in this production. The nuns go from humble habits to Vegas-worthy vestments, and every glittery stitch tells a story. The choreography is playful, tight, and perfectly timed – it’s a visual feast from start to finish.
A Hallelujah-Worthy Night Out
What Sister Act does best is remind us that joy is contagious. It’s a big-hearted, belly-laughing, choir-singing kind of night that leaves you clapping along and maybe even hugging a stranger (it is Adelaide, after all). If you’re after a feel-good night at the theatre, Sister Act is your ticket to the promised land. Get along.
Sister Act The Musical runs at the Adelaide Festival Centre until 19 April 2025
Ticket link
