How I Got The Calling cut - Yay or nay?

[Bob30]

After religiously (no pun intended) listening to the sister act cast recording i decided that my favourite song was How I Got The Calling, i didn't manage to catch it at the Palladium so when it came to the Mayflower i snapped up tickets and upon reading the revised Synopsis i realised that my favourite song had been cut.

Of course this didn't ruin the show for me but Its Good To Be A Nun lacks any comedy (fault of the songwriting as the cast where amazing and all had comic timing perfected) and all the lyrics are unmemorable. Worst of all it really messes up Sister Mary Roberts story line as she has no motive for regretting what she hasn't done apart form Deloris being larger than life and inspiring her.

Thoughts?

[bob8rich]

How I Got The Calling was replaced by It's Good To Be A Nun for the Broadway show. I saw Sister Act in previews on Broadway and I agree with you - I didn't think it worked at all, was not funny and served little or no purpose dramatically (while IMO How I Got The Calling was an absolute knock-out number). I was really surprised they didn't cut the new song during previews and put the original back in coz it definitely fell flat with the audience the night I saw it.

Obviously the creative team thought differently - so what the hell do I know? lol

And btw, Bob30 - welcome to the board!

[Bob30]

bob8rich - yeah i find it such a bland song that is only saved by Deloris saying grace! I wish that Sacred Mass hadn't been cut just because i'd of loved to hear Cynthia Erivo sing it but it wasn't vital and kind of out of place.

The audience (a pretty much full house of 2000+) didn't react at all to the song! I do not understand why they kept it

[mallardo]

I wonder if the song was considered a bit blasphemous for an American family audience? None of the nuns "got the calling" for religious reasons, after all.

[bob8rich]

I can see what you mean, mallardo. So I can kind of understand why they felt the need to cut How I Got The Calling. But can't fathom why they put in a really bland song that clearly does not work. Menken and Slater are great songwriters - I'm sure they could have come up with something better.

Btw - I did love the new song they wrote for the Mother Superior for Broadway (which Victoria Clarke performed quite brilliantly). Is that still in the show on tour?

[jamiekennywicked]

Yes it's still used on tour and its a great moment for the Mother Superior

[Princeton Returns]

I agree, I think it was a huge mistake to get rid of How I Got The Calling

[jaqs]

Loved the song and it did a great job of introducing all the nuns (and not yet a nun) it was witty and a real shame it got cut.

[Nickhutson]

I believe they cut it because it seemed odd for the nuns to be singing when they can't sing - so they replaced it with a more speaky song. It's a big shame - as it's a great song.

Apparently people can't suspend their dis-belief in musicals anymore!

[Phantom of London]

Cutting the song was a big mistake, as it was one of the best song in the score.

[Bob30]

POL i definitely agree with you here! On par with Raise Your Voice and Fabulous Baby, such a shame it was cut.

[loliveve]

I say "nay!" I saw the show on Broadway and thought "what?!" Especially because--if my memory is correct-- the melody of the song was the same. I had to wonder what people though of Mary Roberts singing "the life I never lead" without knowing the back story that she was raised in the convent.