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| The Cast of "Sister Act" (photo: Roger S. Duncan) |
Picture the famous Radio City Rockettes in their
signature kick line, but costumed as nuns, and you have the essence
of the musical “Sister Act”. Based on the popular 1992 film,
brought to Broadway in 2011 after its initial London run, it's the
second production of the current season of shows by Maine State Music
Theatre. The Broadway version was nominated for five Tony Awards and
ran over 500 performances. The plot follows the movie's basic
concept of a lounge singer, an innocent accidental witness to a
murder, hiding out in a protection plan from a gang of gangsters. If
this synopsis sounds familiar, it's probably because it depends on
the same basic plot conceit as that of the 1972 musical “Sugar”
(based on a 1959 film,“Some Like It Hot”). This time, however,
we're not in Chicago anymore, but the witness protection placement is
in Philadelphia.....in a convent. The story, such as it is, follows
the same basic plot of the film, with the addition of its enhanced
lively Music by Alan Menken, predictable Lyrics by Glenn Slater, and
threadbare Book by Cheri and Bill Steinkellner (with additional book
material by Douglas Carter Beane). It's Menken's first score that's
mostly disco, after his numerous successes with more traditional work
in Disney films, though there are echos in the few ballads in this
show of “Beauty and the Beast”. The show, while based on a
Touchstone movie written by Joseph Howard for Disney, is not in fact
a Disney-created adaptation. Despite these shortcomings, it's a
surprisingly effective crowd-pleaser. Much of its impact is directly
due to the amazingly detailed choreography (by Director Donna Drake)
as performed by its hard-working, energetic cast.
That ensemble is led by the exquisitely talented Trista
Dollison, who continually brings down the house as Delores Van
Cartier, supported by the hilarious Charis Leos as Sister Mary
Patrick. There are, in fact, quite a few wonderfully choreographed
performances afoot, from the antics of St. Mary Martin-of-Tours
(Jillian Jarrett) to St. Mary Theresa (Birdie Newman Katz), Sister
Mary Robert (Cary Michele Miller) and Sister Mary Lazarus (April
Woodall). Of course there's a turn or two from Msgr. O'Hara (David
Girolmo) and solid work from the gangsters, with such mob monikers as
Curtis Jackson (Kingsley Leggs, recreating his Broadway role), TJ
(Nik Alexander), Joey (Jason Elliott) and Pablo (Brian Maurice
Kinnard). There are standout characters such as Eddie Souther or
“Sweaty Eddie” (Jay McKenzie), who executes an awe-inspiring
triple quick change, and Mother Superior ( the beautifully-voiced
Mary Jo McConnell). The Musical numbers, many of them
interchangeable, include such titles as “Take Me to Heaven”,
“Here Within These Walls”, “It's Good to Be a Nun”, “Raise
Your Voice”, “Sunday Morning Fever”, “The Life I Never Led”,
“Haven't Got a Prayer”, and, believe it or not, “Bless Our
Show”. The songs are all terrifically delivered, but it's the
choreographed movement that is this show's strongest asset. Mention
should also be made of the striking Set Design by Charles S. Kading,
unforgettable Costume Design by Jeff Hendry, and effective Lighting
Design by Jeffrey Koger. The Sound Design by Brett Rothstein, a bit
heavy on the volume, experienced some difficulties which were easily
overcome by Dollison's suddenly unamplified but searingly emotional
work, ironically producing the most moving moment of the entire
production.
At the close of the show there was a well-earned and
enthusiastic standing ovation, but all through it, the audience
seemed in heaven, mirroring the point in the show where the
re-energized nuns get a published review: “If you see only one
Roman Catholic Mass this season....”, and the twice-repeated
admonition, “God has put you here for a reason....take the hint”.
So do take the hint and fill a pew for this devilishly angelic show.
It's bound to put a dimple in your wimple.
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