Sister Act at Bristol Hippodrome: An uplifting musical bar nun

The eve of International Women’s Day seemed perfect timing to see sisters doing it for themselves on the stage of the Bristol Hippodrome.

A celebration of sisterhood based on the 1992 Whoopi Goldberg film, Sister Act stopped off in Bristol as part of a national tour.

A predominantly female audience, including a few dressed as nuns, turned out in force to see this musical comedy set in 1970s Philadelphia.

It’s the story of nightclub singer Deloris Van Cartier who witnesses her mobster boyfriend murder a suspected grass and is placed in a convent by police for her own safety until she has to testify.

The sassy singer soon uses her vocal skills to teach her fellow nuns how to sing, which in turn helps the church raise much needed cash and even results in a performance for the Pope.

Emmerdale’s Sandra Marvin plays the part of lead role of Deloris, and although she doesn’t share the same comic timing as Whoopi Goldberg, she’s in a league of her own when it comes to singing and dancing.

As Mother Superior, Birds of a Feather star Lesley Joseph banishes all memories of her saucy Dorien Green character and her heartfelt version of Here Within These Walls with Deloris and the nuns was one of the highlights of the first half.

Tracy Beaker favourite Clive Rowe brought a panto Buttons-style vulnerability to the role of kind-hearted policeman Eddie Souther.

Rowe has a rich and versatile voice and his blink-of-an-eye costume change during I Could Be That Guy was a stand-out moment.

But for me it was rising musical theatre star Lizzie Bea as Sister Mary Robert who raised this already uplifting show to even greater heights.

As the story developed, this shy and softly spoken character found her voice for the big number The Life I Never Led and Bea filled the auditorium with an extraordinary, full-throated vocal performance entirely deserving of the biggest cheer of the show. You could say she has the strongest voice in the convent bar nun.

OK, memorable songs are thin on the ground - I’m not humming any the morning after - but Sister Act is an enjoyable enough nun-on-the-run romp filled with plenty of joyous moments to lift the spirits.

Sister Act is at Bristol Hippodrome until March 18. For tickets, click here.