The cast of nuns in Repertory Company Theatre’s ‘Sister Act.’ (Courtesy photo)
Repertory Company Theatre opened its latest production Sister Act last weekend. Based on the Whoopi Goldberg movie, the musical follows the story of lounge singer Deloris Van Cartier. The show also closes the Richardson-based company’s current season. At the Sunday matinee, Sister Act drew in a large crowd if not a sold out house.
The show has some major differences from the film but none that take too much away. The time is set in the late ’70s and a love interest between the Deloris and her former schoolmate now cop Eddie blooms across the story. Also, don’t expect the songs from the movie of old pop hits crafted into religious ditties.
Sister Act was directed by Debra Carter who crafted a well-paced show that kept up its energy while also attuning to the show’s more tender moments. This story had almost everything: comedy, drama, romance, suspense and of course, showtunes. In Carter’s hands, all the vibes fell just right into place.
Exploding out of the gate was Rikki Sushaun as Deloris Van Cartier. Sushaun completely embodied the character with fabulous flash and a knockout voice. “Take Me to Heaven” will likely stick well after the show thanks to her performance. With pizzazz and sass, Sushaun immediately brought the audience into Deloris’ world. Her stage presence was evident and she easily carried this show. As the story takes Deloris to hideout in a convent, Sushaun was equally captivating in more intimate moments while also injecting clever humor.
Jill Brooks was ideally cast as the stern and traditional Mother Superior. As Deloris changes the convent’s choir, Brooks peeled back layers of Mother Superior from reluctance to understanding and then acceptance. As Monsignor, Scott Vollmer did much with his sparse stage time and left a humorous impression through facial reactions and subtle nuances. As the show’s main heel Curtis, Christian A. Black portrayal hit all the right bad-guy notes but added some fun notably with “When I Find My Baby.”
As Eddie, Eddy Herring was the charming hero. He gave the character a clumsy demeanor which added to the character’s appeal. The show’s most innovative moment belonged to him when he belted out “I Could Be That Guy” as the surrounding cast chimed in and redressed him onstage helping with his very notable performance.
The show’s set design utilized a digital screen backdrop along with movable set pieces, creating depth and visual interest. However, technical issues, particularly with sound mixing, occasionally hindered the performances, with vocals sometimes being too quiet or muddled.
Written by Cheri and Bill Steinkellner, Sister Act‘s first half featured a compelling and entertaining storyline. The second half, however, had a noticeable decrease in energy both in the writing and even the cast. They eventually regained momentum. The ending had a somewhat too-tidy resolution, but the cast’s dedication and enthusiasm made for an enjoyable experience.
The show runs through Aug. 4.
–Rich Lopez