REVIEW: ‘Sister Act’ good for the soul

CEDAR RAPIDS - 'Sister Act” is habit-forming. We fell in love with the movie in 1992, and a nearly full house at the Paramount Theatre on Wednesday night fell in love with the stage version, leaping in unison for an immediate standing ovation.

While the storylines are basically the same, the music is completely different. In the movie, traditional hymns get turned inside out and upside down until everyone is dancing in the aisles. In the play, Alan Menken of Disney film fame gives us sparkling pious pop songs packed with plenty of soul and disco grooves.

Set during the holiday season of 1977-78, the action swirls around wannabe show club chanteuse Deloris Van Cartier. Shortly after auditioning for a headlining spotlight at her mobster boyfriend's Philadelphia club, she sees him conduct a coldblooded execution. She runs straight to the cop who harbors a secret high school crush on her and he hustles into witness protection at the most unlikely of places: a nearly Catholic church and convent.

It quickly becomes apparent the nuns need her as much as she needs them. Their choir sounds like tortured cats and the church is on the verge of closing. She trades her thigh-high boots and sparkling miniskirt for a 'long, black penguin dress” and leads her new gang in a hilarious dinner prayer invoking every church cliche imaginable.

But when she leads them in song, the magic really kicks in.

From the get-go, the costumes, music, acting and choreography shine as brightly as Deloris' sequins. The scenery, however, was spare, bland and disappointing - just like the nuns' early attempts at singing. But when the stained glass backdrop and giant Mary statue flew in, none of the visuals that came before matter at all. This scenery is simply stunning in its complexity, especially in the finale.

Kerissa Arrington could stand on a bare stage, wear a gunny sack and still bedazzle her audiences. She is equally magnificent as Deloris and Sister Mary Clarence. She's dynamite from the opening strains of 'Take Me to Heaven” to the explosive finale of 'Spread the Love Around.” She's a true triple threat - great singer, dancer, actress. We're rooting for her all the way.

The Paramount audience rooted just as loudly for the nuns, led by Maggie Clennon Reberg as the no-nonsense Mother Superior. She resists Deloris' magnetic pull as long as humanly possible, before raising her tunic just enough to kick up a sensible heel.

Emily Kay Shrader is outstanding as sweetly meek Sister Mary Robert, who casts that all aside to belt out 'The Life I Never Led,” and Sarah Michelle Cuc is delightful as giddy Sister Mary Patrick.

A special nod goes to the thugs who bust hilarious moves they think will seduce the nuns. They thought wrong. Anthony Van Laast's choreography looks good on everyone, but especially on these guys.

The orchestra is strong and assured, allowing all the vocals to shine brightly and briskly.

Nothing shines as brightly as the garb for the finale. No money or sequins were spared for this full-throttle, raise-the-roof alleluia. Amen and amen.

ARTS EXTRA

WHAT: 'Sister Act” national tour

WHEN: 3 p.m. Sunday (12/21)

WHERE: Adler Theatre, 136 E. Third St., Davenport

TICKETS: $39.50 to $62, Adler Box Office, 1-(800) 745-3000 or Sisteractontour.com/tickets.html

LOCAL CONNECTION: ‘Sister Act' coming to Paramount