By Skip Sheffield
Can I get an amen?
Amen!
“Sister Act” is one of those unexpected little blessings
that sometimes come in the holiday season. The singing, swinging nun extravaganza
runs through Dec. 30 at Broward
Center
“Sister Act” is based on the 1992 movie starring Whoopi
Goldberg, Maggie Smith and Kathy Najimy. For the 2011 Broadway musical version,
which is produced by Whoopi Goldberg, the setting has been moved from Reno , Nevada to South Philadelphia . Additional music has been created by
Alan Menkin (“Beauty and the Beast,” “Little Mermaid”) with lyrics by Glenn
Slater (“Little Mermaid”). The time has been moved back to the peak of the 1980s
disco area, which enables scenic designer (Klara Zieglerova) and costume
designer Liz Brotherston to have some glittery, over-the-top fun.
The highly unlikely story has aspiring disco star Deloris
Van Cartier (Ta’Rea Campbell) accidentally witness a mob execution.
Deloris flees to her friend “Sweaty Eddie” Souther (E. Clayton
Cornelious), who happens to be a police officer.
Eddie long harbored a crush on Deloris and he is protective
of her, so he urges her to hide in safety at the local convent, Our Queen of
Angels. Deloris assumes the guise of a young nun, which allows for some sight
and verbal gags.
The titular head of the convent is genial Monsignor O’Hara
(Richard Pruitt), but the real power is with the Mother Superior, a stern,
upright character played by Hollis Resnik. There is an immediate clash of
wills, and it gets worse when Deloris takes over leadership of the convent
choir and teaches the women some decidedly secular moves.
It’s all an excuse to stage some ever more elaborate musical
numbers, backed by a 14-piece orchestra in the pit. There are some outstanding
performers, starting with Ta’Rea Campbell, a woman with a voice more clear and
powerful than Whoopi could ever hope for. Clayton Cornelious is an excellent
singer with good dance moves and one truly amazing costume change for his
showpiece number, “I Could Be That Guy.”
There is a tuneful, slinky male trio (Todd A. Horman, Ernie
Pruenda and Charles Barksdale) that shows off slick dances moves behind bad guy
Curtis Jackson (Kingsley Leggs).
The element of surprise is well-played by the casting of original
Broadway cast member Lael Van Keuren as the shy youngest novice, Sister Mary
Robert. We’ll just say she doesn’t remain meek for long.
“Sister Act” is the kind of show that builds to an
inevitable grand finale, which really does “Spread the Love Around.”
You don’t have to be Catholic or even religious to
appreciate the rah-rah show biz feel-good glitz of “Sister Act.”
Tickets are $39.50-$79.50 and may be reserved by calling
954-462-0222 or online at www.browardcenter.org.
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