Sister Act

Postcard Review by Caroline Russell-King

Show – Sister Act

Playwright/Composer – Music by Ian Menken, lyrics by Glenn Slater, Book by Cheri Steinkellner & Bill Steinkellner with additional book material by Douglas Carter Beane, based on the screenplay by Joseph Howard.

Production Company/Theatre space –Stage West Dinner Theatre (professional).

Length – 2 Act (2 hours, 20 minutes, one intermission)

Genre/s – Musical

Premise – A lounge singer who witnesses a murder is put into witness protection at a nunnery where she reforms the choir much to the chagrin of the Mother Superior.

Why this play? Why now? –  A recognizable show and crowd pleaser.

Curiosities – How soon can this ensemble be assembled again for a different show?

Notable Moment – Eddie’s tear away costume.

Notable writing – Sister Act (the musical) won four Olivier Awards and garnered five Tony Award nominations. The original Broadway production was also nominated for five Drama Desk Awards.  Set in the 1980s, a few of the lines are jarring to today’s ear but the overall construction is a roadmap for a successful Broadway musical.

Notable performances – Ocean Williams as the lead is perfection. As the lyrics go, she is both fine and fabulous. Also, making her Stage West debut, Colleen Winton as the disapproving Mother Superior is a pure delight. New to Stage West (as the cop who has a crush on the singer) is Kaden Brett Forsberg, another talented triple threat, who was last seen at Theatre Calgary’s Legally Blond. Michael-Lamont Lytle as the murderer and his band of comic thugs (Mike Melio, Hal Wesley Rogers, and Nico Solarte) are also new faces that I can’t wait to see again. Supporting the show is a chorus of nutty nuns including standouts Ashlie White, Rennie Wilkinson, and Katherine Fadum.

Notable design/Production – Set Designer JP Thibodeau excels yet again. Costume Designer Ben Toner, a designer from Drag Race, brings all that fun and glamour. As with Footloose, the lighting design by David Smith is excellent. Also, shout out to the two Stage Managers and two Assistant Stage Managers, who run a tight show.

Notable direction – Award winning Director Tracey Flye should be offered an AD role. There is a freshness that she brings to the theatre. She and Choreographer Stephan Dickson are a great team for this comic caper. Konrad Pluta, Resident Musical Director, and his band shines again. Out of the 265 shows, this is one of Stage West’s best musicals.

One reason to see this show – Leaving the theatre I heard someone say “Amazing!” Go - you’ll be converted!