‘Sister Act’ // Crossroads Live, Shake and Stir and Power Arts

‘Sister Act’ was fabulous, baby!

Say amen because ‘Sister Act’ has landed in Brisbane! With a star-studded Aussie cast of old-time favourites and new up-and-comers, this production is not one to miss.

Based on the famous 1992 cult classic starring Whoopie Goldberg, ‘Sister Act’ follows the trials and tribulations of the effervescent Deloris Van Cartier (Casey Donovan) who dreams of a life in the spotlight. That’s until she witnesses a horrible crime and is put under witness protection in a convent!

Set design by Morgan Large and lighting design by Tim Mitchell packed an immediate punch as soon as audiences walked into the Lyric theatre. With the iconic ‘Sister Act’ logo lit up in fluoro across the stage, phones immediately came out to snap this impactful first impression. And what amazed upon entry continued throughout the entire production.

The usual Lyric Theatre proscenium was transformed into multiple ovals which had lighting strips built in. These effective set design elements carried a lot of the visual punch throughout the production. Basted in a sepia hue when in the convent/police quarters and then lit up in magnificent splendour for the razzle dazzle moments, this contrast kept audiences on the edge of their seats.

Additional set design was fairly minimal, with small but effective elements being brought on stage to delineate the different scenes. The building skyline spun around to reveal humdrum shelves and plinths were flown in to create the atmosphere of a chapel.

Sound designer Tom Marshall enhanced the scene changes by adding reverb to the chapel vocals, creating the effect of Deloris stepping into a grand cathedral with towering ceilings.
While we can’t reveal too many costuming surprises, expect the unexpected! From wildly camp sequins and police officers in booty shorts to bejewelled habits set against the sacred backdrop of the cathedral, the show delivers a dazzling contrast.

This cast of multi-generational Aussie icons should be reason alone to book your ticket to ‘Sister Act’. From the character work of the ensemble, suave moves of Curtis Jackson’s henchmen, the jaw-dropping vocals and energy from the nunnery and power from the lead cast, this group of incredible performers firmly deserved their full-house standing ovation on opening night.

We just want to take a moment to bow down to the guardian angels of theatre – the swings/covers! Even on opening night, Jake Ameduri stepped into a swing track as Monsignor O’Hara while Damien Bermingham covered Curtis Jackson. Bermingham embodied the abusive and powerful Curtis while Ameduri delivered a contrasting performance as O’Hara!

The Bee Gees-style vocals of the thug trio were wholly comedic and impressive. James Bell as TJ, Jordan Angelides as Pablo and Tom Struik as Joey had brief moments on stage but made every second count! An absolute highlight was ‘Lady in the Long Black Dress’ by this iconic trio. While the song itself was fairly unnecessary in progressing the storyline, it more than made up for it in entertainment!

The comradery of the cast in the nunnery was wonderful to witness. You could tell every single performer loved being on stage and bounced off each other’s energy with ease. It was wonderful to see the interaction between different generations and the clear characters these talented performers had created. Bianca Bruce as Sister Mary Patrick was delightfully bubbly and surprised audiences with her dazzling legit soprano moments.

Sophie Montague made their professional theatre debut as Sister Mary Robert and absolutely knocked it out of the park! From the moment they stepped on stage, Montague embodied their character and displayed a beautiful arch as Sister Mary Robert found her voice and confidence. Speaking of voice – wow, Montague can sing! Pitch perfect on every note and with power to blow an audience away, this talented newcomer is only just getting started!

Raphael Wong as Eddie Souther was an easy crowd favourite. With his goofy easiness and heartwarming charisma, Wong immediately won over the audience’s heart. Not to mention Eddie’s crowd-stopper song ‘I Could Be That Guy’. Starting off as a fairly humdrum tune, Wong quickly ramped it up and delivered a vocally brilliant performance – showing off his strong classical/contemporary vocals.

Alongside newcomers to Aussie theatre is a host of theatre veterans who need no real introduction.
Rhonda Burchmore as Sister Mary Lazarus was an absolute hoot. Showing off her natural comedic timing and alto vocals, Burchmore delivered yet another iconic performance to add to her significant CV.
Genevieve Lemon as Mother Superior held the audience in the palm of her powerful hand. While ‘Sister Act’ has generally larger-than-life characters, Lemon brings a steady realism to Mother Superior. As an incredibly strong female character, it was great to see the tenderness in Lemon’s portrayal. Not to mention her dry sense of humour which was perfectly delivered.

And finally, the star of the show – Casey Donovan as Deloris Van Cartier. Wow, what a performance! It was incredible to see a vocal master such as Donovan in this powerhouse role. Not only do you have to bring a vivacious amount of energy at all times, you also have to belt your face off every couple of minutes. Donovan’s soulful vocals were incredible to witness and her ease in delivering this vocally testing track is a testament to her talent. It was a performance that audiences will remember for a long while.

If you enjoy a camp show with incredible vocals, heart and energy, then ‘Sister Act’ is for you! While perhaps a bit of a ‘cookie cutter’ musical, you will certainly be thoroughly entertained and go away a little lighter than before. And that, I think, is the sign of a great night out at the theatre!

‘Sister Act’ performs until Saturday, 15 March 2025 at the Lyrics Theatre, QPAC. For more information visit QPAC’s website.