It wasn’t divine intervention, but rather the Polar Vortex and its accompanying dismal weather that forced Sister Act to cancel its Tuesday night performance at the Kentucky Center when cast members were stranded in Massachusetts.
But prayers were answered, and Sister Act a Divine Musical Comedy opened to an approving audience Wednesday night.
Deloris Van Cartier is a rough around the edges nightclub singer turned accidental witness when she sees her bad-boy boyfriend Curtis kill a man in cold blood. Determined to escape the same fate, Deloris hides in the convent of a declining church while she awaits Curtis’ trial. As Deloris fights to save herself, she inadvertently discovers a way save the church in the process.
The plot is similar to that of its namesake movie (1992 with Whoopi Goldberg) and is filled to the brim with sequined nuns, but don’t go expecting to see them dancing to familiar tunes.
The production features original music by Alan Menken (8 Oscar and 11 Grammy Award winning composer of The Little Mermaid, Beauty and the Beast, Aladdin and the like) and clever listen-close-or-you’ll-miss-the-joke lyrics by Glenn Slater.
The music of the show, which is set in late 1970’s Philadelphia, reflects the disco era in America, noticeable throughout the production but hilariously punctuated by Curtis’ three-man posse of kitschy criminals in “Lady in the Long Black Dress.”
Fans of the movie will be pleased to see most of their favorite characters make an appearance in the musical. Florrie Bagel is amusing as uber-cheerful Sister Mary Patrick and Ashley Moniz is a humble superpower in her genuine portrayal of young Mary Robert. Hometown gent Richard Pruitt does Jeffersonville proud as the jolly Monsignor O’Hara.
Sister Act the Musical is only going to be redeeming for its main character, Deloris Van Cartier. For the rest of us, it’s just plain fun.
Sister Act is part of the PNC Broadway in Louisville series and continues through Sunday, January 12 at the Kentucky Center. Tickets start at $25 and are available online, in person at the Kentucky Center box office or by calling 502-584-7777.
Image: Courtesy of Kentucky Center
