Few if any musicals I have seen supply the warmth, the wit and the stunning accomplishment — artistic and technical — offered by Sister Act. The first British touring production was already shining brightly when it made its second port of call at Oxford’s New Theatre last October. Nearly six months further along the route, it is polished to near perfection now at the Wycombe Swan.

At heart of the show (based on the film starring Whoopi Goldberg, who is one of its producers) is the sensational performance by Cynthia Erivo as the sassy heroine Deloris Van Cartier. We first meet her as she’s belting out a number (Take Me to Heaven) she hopes might lead her to success on the 1970s Philadelphia soul scene.

Disappointment follows, though, when her boyfriend and showbiz mentor — gangster club owner Curtis Jackson (Cavin Cornwall) —refuses the introduction he promised to a record producer. She isn’t good enough, he says.

Just as you’re thinking what an idiot he is for rejecting so obvious a star, he proves himself a murderous idiot by gunning down one of his gang in front of her.

Deloris flees to the police and officer Eddie Souther (Edward Baruwa), who had a schoolboy crush on her, devises an unusual witness protection scheme by sending her to hide in a convent.

The reason that no one would ever think of looking for her in such an institution — she being as far from the traditional idea of a nun as could be — is, of course, exactly why we enjoy seeing her there. Though disapproved of by the Mother Superior (Denise Black), the new recruit hits it off with many of the other nuns — especially perky novice Sister Mary Robert (Julie Atherton).

Meanwhile, she is busily transforming the once comically incompetent convent choir into an outfit good enough to sing and dance in front of the Pope.

The high-kicking nuns in full cry are but one of the joys of this uplifting show. Alan Menken and Glenn Slater’s songs are a well-deserved tribute to all the seventies soul styles, and are impeccably performed in every instance. Even old Barry White croons into view at one point in the rounded shape of Monsignor O’Hara (Michael Starke).

Sister Act, under director Jerry Zaks, continues till March 17. 01494 512000 (wycombeswan.co.uk).