Review: Jubilant SISTER ACT Will Raise You Up at MTW

Sister Act/book by Cheri Steinkellner & Bill Steinkellner/additional material by Douglas Carter Beane/music by Alan Menken/lyrics by Glenn Slater/directed by Michael Matthews/Musical Theatre West (MTW), Long Beach/through April 25

Sister Act the Musical started out in 2006 at the Pasadena Playhouse, premiered in London's West End in 2009 and then underwent serious revisions before coming to Broadway in 2011. I remember liking the first mounting in 2006 with many reservations. Since I loved the 1992 film so much, I didn't feel that the stage version was particularly faithful...no pun intended.

Well, with all the 2011 changes, MTW's revival of the Broadway version is tops, a joyful, tuneful, splashy romp that never lets down, with a tremendous cast, stellar direction from Michael Matthews and soulful choreography from Daniel Smith. Douglas Carter Beane, who penned the screenplay To Wong Foo, Thanks for Everything! Julie Newmar and the Tony nominated play The Little Dog Laughed, added new book material for the national tour, included here, and this contributes substantially to molding a sleek and unforgettable show.

Just a brief recap of the plotline. Unlike the film which is set in Vegas and San Francisco, the stage play is set in South Philly. Club singer Deloris Van Cartier (Constance Jewell Lopez) accidentally witnesses a murder committed by her boyfriend/crime boss Curtis Jackson (Gerry McIntyre), and to shut her up, Curtis sends his mob out to kill her. Deloris manages to escape and finds that Sweaty Eddie Souther, an old high school boyfriend (Anthony Manough), is now a local detective. Still smitten with Deloris, he willingly takes on her case. To throw off the mob, he sends her to hide out in the convent of a local Catholic church. Deloris Van Cartier... a nun? Can she pull it off? Well, frankly, there is the rub and the outlandish humor of the story. But, Deloris befriends many of the sisters, bringing her progressive philosophy into their midst to the dismay of Mother Superior (Mary Gordon Murray). Mother Superior, to keep Deloris useful to the church, appoints her choir mistress, and she takes on the unbelievable task of trying to make a choir from a group whose music can only be described as "There are no words". Of course, the choir becomes a sensation, with Deloris bringing rock, rhythm and soul into the choir loft, creating a stir with the traditional Mother Superior. The church, which was under pressure to close down due to lack of parishioners and funds, attracts the entire local community and beyond out of curiosity to hear this amazing, but to some conservative catholics, irreverent, blasphemous choir. Even the Pope schedules a visit. Deloris and Mother Superior are at odds, but Deloris has saved the church and brought fulfillment into the lives of the desperately uncreative and isolated sisters. Friendship is what this show is all about!

Also great about Sister Act is that most supporting cast members get their star turn in the spotlight. The hoods, losers Joey (Spencer Rowe), Pablo (Elijah Reyes) and TJ (John Wells III) do a deliciously dynamite job of showing their lack of finesse in getting women with "Lady in the Long Black Dress". Manough soars with "I Could Be That Guy". Only Velcro could account for his super fast costume change from dreamy sexy dude to on.the.street cop! Incredible! Sister Mary Robert (Ashley Ruth Jones) does a riveting 11th. hour confession with "The Life I Never Led" and Mary Patrick (Cindy Sciacca) and Mary Lazarus (Cathy Newman) have standout hilarious bits in "It's Good to Be a Nun" and "Sister Act", as well as in every other scene they're in. Kudos as well to Sarah Benoit as Mary Theresa and J. Elaine Marcos as Mary Martin of Tours.

As to the leads, what an amazingly talented group! Lopez explodes as Deloris Van Cartier with uber guts and charisma, and a voice that soars, literally, to the heavens! Murray does a sensational job with Mother Superior. Her "Haven't Got a Prayer" is another strongly engaging 11th. hour song. Tom Shelton is delightfully droll as Monsignor O'Hara and McIntyre, despicably cool as bad boy Curtis Jackson. Under Michael Matthews' glorious and fast-paced direction and performing Daniel Smith's dynamically fast, nonstop choreographic moves, this entire ensemble rock. Simple yet provocative set pieces, and those divine nun habits in white, black and silver sequins by Wilma Mickler sparkle until your eyes almost pop out of their sockets.

I already mentioned Douglas Carter Beane's contribution to the book, but cannot praise enough the music by Alan Menken and lyrics by Glenn Slater. "Take Me to Heaven", "Raise Your Voice", "Bless Our Show", "Spread the Love Around" and the aforementioned 11 o'clock numbers are all winners, taking us back to the rock of the 70s with all of its fun-loving, easy listening. Sister Act is one contemporary musical that has flavorful tunes to make you move, groove, sing along and completely...REJOICE! Don't miss MTW's great spectacle through April 25 only! On an entertainment scale of 1 to 10, 12!

(photo credit: Creative Image Photography)

www.musical.org

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