Sister Act is a Joyous Noise at Lyric Arts in Anoka

Sister Act is a musical based on the popular 1992 film starring Whoopi Goldberg, which I saw in the theaters and remember enjoying but it’s been 33 years and so you’ll forgive me if the plot is a little fuzzy now. Which really is to say that you don’t have to have even seen the film to enjoy Lyric Arts new production. There are some shows that really are just amazing works of art like Les Miserables or Company, and then there are shows that are just fun like Sister Act. I love both types and I’m as surprised as anybody to say that Sister Act is at the top of the list of just fun shows that I’ve seen recently. The more musicals I’ve seen based on hit movies the more I’ve come to expect them to more or less suck for every Once, A Little Night Music, and Little Shop of Horrors there are twelve Pretty Woman‘s. So I don’t go into that type of show with high hopes, which usually helps me to enjoy in more due to lowered expectations. But I don’t think expectations had anything to do with how much I enjoyed this show. I think the cast, which is fantastic, and the crew, under Director Siddeeqah Shabazz, probably had an awful lot to do with it though. I was laughing and marveling at the vocals and choreography right up until the point I was moved to tears. I absolutely loved this cast and found the story full of humor with an unexpected touch of heart.

If you are not familiar with the film or musical a singer named Deloris witnesses her boyfriend Curtis murder a man. In order to hide her until she can be a witness at trial, a policeman named Eddie arranges to hide her in a convent. There is a fish out of water aspect to the story that provides a lot of humor, but the show really begins to sing when Deloris begins to help the nuns choir. Which, prior to her involvement, sounded much like you might imagine if you ran over a liter of kittens with a lawnmower. This is also where the show turns from broad comedy to something that begins to have a bit of heart to it. The choir becomes a hit, reversing the fortunes of the failing church. Of course the success of the choir leads to publicity which leads to Curtis and his henchmen discovering where Deloris is.

I’ve mentioned a little game I play with whoever I attend a show with where I ask, “who was your favorite?” This doesn’t happen often but this is one of those cases where there isn’t a clear favorite or two that are too hard to choose between, there are literally over 10 members of the cast that are in the running. So many of them have these moments that I thought as I was watching I have to mention that in my review! To the point where If I mention everything it will take forever to write and no one, not even my Mother… OK, especially my Mother, would ever read it all. So I’m going to mention a bunch of performers and moments, trying not to spoil anything and with the understanding this is just the tip of the iceberg. Cassie Edlund plays Deloris, full of over the top comic hamminess that feels like it’s going to be one note, and then turns into a real human character, as the show progresses she begins to layer subtlety into the character and her singing goes from solid vocally singing energetic numbers, to beautifully soulful vocally and song wise. It’s a genius way to play the character giving us a tangible way to measure the characters growth and opening up to her fellow “Sisters”. Caitlin Featherstone translating the Spanish speaking thugs threats for the other Nuns. Darius A. Gillard as Curtis, is a great villain and his rich vocals are delicious. Quintin Michael as Eddie the cop, he has a double costume change that is brilliantly conceived and executed. Sher U-F as Sister Mary Lazarus, doing a biblical rap during a choir performance is pure gold. Kaoru Shoji probably the best vocals in the cast, and the character that finally broke the dam and had the tears streaming down my face. Again, this is like half of the performers I want to mention and moments that stuck with me.

Big props to the Director Shabazz who guides this show with such a sure hand that the audience feels like they are part of the congregation. Laura Long’s musical direction is tight and perfectly balanced with the singers. I absolutely loved the choreography from Michael Terrell Brown, it’s full of comedic touches, every move serves a purpose and it’s usually to make us smile. Bradley Whitcomb’s set design is rather elaborate, with a set of stairs that can slide backwards or forwards to change the scene and to allow for more stage space as needed for the dancing. It’s one of the more elaborate sets I’ve seen at Lyric Arts and it looks like a real stone church. I also want to acknowledge the work of Costume Designer Khamphian Vang, the habits of the nuns are a given but Officer Eddie’s costume changes, the 70’s style of Curtis’s henchmen, and the glamorous costumes that Deloris sometimes wears, not to mention the blue fur coat are all very memorable.

Sister Act runs through May 11th at Lyric Arts in Anoka. For more information and to purchase tickets go to https://www.lyricarts.org/sister-act

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