Reviewed by Tony Annicone
Little Theatre of Fall River’s first musical of their season is “Sister Act”, the international smash hit musical based on the mega-hit, 1992 film that starred Whoppi Goldberg. This group spares no expense in bringing the highest quality costumes to this show. When disco diva, Deloris Van Cartier witnesses a murder, she is put in protective custody in one place that cops think she can’t be found: a convent. Disguised as a nun, she finds herself at odds with both the rigid lifestyle and the uptight Mother Superior. Using her unique talents to inspire the choir, Deloris breathes new life into the church, but in doing so, blows her cover. Soon it is nun-on-the-run time but she finds salvation in the heavenly power of her newly found sisterhood. This musical hit contains a vast array of musical styles from Motown, soul and funk to great big disco anthems and Barry White inspired musical comedy. Director Jeff Belanger always does a topnotch job with his musicals and “Sister Act” is no exception to that rule. He obtains high energy and topnotch quality from his whole cast with his keen insight into these comic characters. The terrific musical direction is by Bobby Perry who taught the infectious and melodic score to this talented cast. Dan Snizek conducts a eight piece orchestra, while the high energy choreography is by Erin Cote and Mary Wrobleski. The sets are by Jeff and scenic designer Shawn Elliott while the multitude of gorgeous costumes are by Trisha Berner with the nun costumes by Johnny Cagno. All their combined efforts plus hard working stage managers, John Nunes-Sylvia and Rick Couitt, create a topnotch musical treat that had the opening night audience on their feet cheering the talent of all these individuals.
Leading this cast is Marsha Furtado. She delivers a tour de force performance as this captivating, enchanting and energetic character. Marsha also has a powerful voice. She and her two back up singers start this musical off with “Take Me to Heaven” which later becomes a show stopping nun’s choir song and their second number is “Fabulous Baby” where she sings what a big star she is going to be. Her group songs include It’s Good to Be a Nun” which is done tongue in cheek and “Raise Your Voices”, where she finally teaches the nuns how to sing properly and energizes the first act. Other standout show stopping songs include “Sunday Morning Fever”, “Bless Our Show” and the poignant, heartfelt “Sister Act” where Marsha captures the hearts of the audience with her awesome voice and heart as this incredible character.
Another fabulous performer is Lisa Beausoliel as the Mother Superior. She brings the house down with her solos, “Here Within Our Walls” where she tells Deloris the rules and regulations of the convent. Her other powerhouse number is “Haven’t Got a Prayer” and the mother superior is determined to protect her nuns from the evils of the outside world. Lisa commands the stage as this authority figure in every scene she is in. The standout moment of the show comes when Mother Superior and Deloris finally form a truce as they realize that they aren’t that much different after all. The three most comic nuns in this show are Susan Fortes-Couitt as Sister Mary Lazarus, Melanie Kane as Sister Mary Robert and Mary Wrobleski as Sister Mary Patrick. They are hilarious in these roles. Susan is a hoot as the curmudgeon nun who sings a rap section of “Bless Our Show” and has terrific one liners. Melanie sings her high octane number “The Life I Never Led” to Deloris. This is a poignant number as she pours her heart out to her friend and she finally stands up to the Mother Superior to protect Deloris near the end of the show. She, Susan and Mary are marvelous with their hilarious one liners and wise cracks. Sister Robert Anne finally stands up for herself after a pep talk from Deloris. Mary is super as Sister Mary Patrick. Another funny nun is Betty Teixeira as Sister Martin of Tours who is a bit out there and utters did the smoke appear for the election of a new pope which won many laughs. She also speaks Spanish to one of the thugs and knocks him on his ass. The entire nuns chorus knocks impresses you with their vocal prowess.
Playing the cop who eventually falls for Deloris is Sam Bianco as Eddie. He displays his voice in “I Could Be That Guy” when he discovers he has feelings for this gal. He changes from cop clothes to disco clothes back to cop outfit during his number. He plays this sympathetic guy who gives Deloris tough love at first before he falls head over heels in love with her. He’s terrific in this role.The villain of the show, Curtis is excellently played by Ken Etress. As Curtis, Ken displays his powerful voice with his three thugs in “When I Find My Baby” about how they are going kill her with the hoodlums as back up singers. The three thugs are fabulously played by Jonah Salamon as TJ, Jose Cabral as Joey and Ryan Durkay as Pablo who only speaks in Spanish. These three hoods sing the hilarious “Lady in the Long Black Dress” as they try to come up with a plan to capture her. This song stops the show with hilarity. These guys are reminiscent of the antics of the three stooges with their wild and crazy antics. Each of them sings to the song to a lady in the audience which wins them many laughs all the way. They finally get their comeuppance from the nuns. So for the sleeper hit of the fall, be sure to catch “Sister Act” at Little Theatre of Fall River. So be sure to catch Deloris before she and her nuns sing and dance their way out of town. Tell them Tony sent you.
SISTER ACT (11 to 14 October)
Little Theatre of Fall River, BCC, 777 Elsbree Street, Fall River, MA
1(508)675-1852 or www.littletheatre.net
