Sister Act

Like a good book with an exceptionally long exposition, "Sister Act" currently playing at the Adrienne Arsht takes its time to elicit excitement. But when it does, look out, you will be in for a satisfying evening of theatre.

The plot of the musical stays true to the film of the same name. Deloris (the Whoopi Goldberg character) like the musicians in "Some Like it Hot" witnesses a mob execution and goes into hiding. The investigator in charge of bringing the hoodlums to justice stashes Deloris (Kerissa Arrington) in a convent. While there she heads up the choir and revamps their vocal selections, adding dance to their musical presentations at Sunday mass. This becomes wildly successful, and eventually his holiness himself wants to see and hear the nuns in action.

The local news covers the upcoming papal visit and the jig is up for Deloris when the gang sees her on TV. Several Keystone Cop chases later the bod boys wind up arrested, and Deloris agrees to stay on as choirmaster. She also hooks up with the Eddie Souther (Lamont O'Neal) the policeman who has been crushing on her since high school. Her former beau, Curtis Jackson (Kolby Kindle), the mastermind of the criminals, winds up in jail.

In the lead role Arrington comes into her own when she reaches the nunnery. The sheer joy she experiences inside and out when she is conducting makes for some of the play's most delightful physical moments. Additionally, F. Tyler Burnet as Joey, the crime bosses' nephew as well as Sarah Michelle Cuc as Sister Mary Patrick add their physical comedy skills, eliciting great guffaws from the audience.

Both O'Neal and Kindle as Deloris' love interests have rich, resonant singing voices and make the most of their respective solos: "I Could Be That Guy" and the comic "When I Find My Baby."

The strength of "Sister Act" lies on shoulders of Maggie Clennon Reberg as Mother Superior, a role in which she is, well, superior. She sings solos "Here Within These Walls" and the delicious "Haven't Got a Prayer." She also chimes in on the songs "Sister Act" and during the finale "Spread the Love Around." She appears to have the most experience in the cast, and it shows. Her presence is apparent every moment she is onstage.

The band under the direction of Christopher Babbage, who also plays keyboard, could not be better. They are so tight, accompanying the performers so flawlessly, the audience forgets they are live. The other members include John Conway also on keyboard, Michael Karcher on guitar, John Toney on bass and Taurus Lovey on drums. Talitha Fehr is credited as the music coordinator and Stuart Andrews as keyboard programmer.

The sets by Klara Zieglerova consist of translucent, layered backdrops of archways and halls for the convent and shimmery curtains lit by Natsha Katz with various colors for the nightclub scenes. The Sunday service is held in front of a twenty foot statue of the Virgin Mary. The costumes by Lez Brotherston are appropriate and sequined nuns' habits revealed in the last scene are hysterical.

The score to the musical is not unique and often repetitive, but the cast relishes in the chance to 'bring it' to the stage.

"Sister Act" runs thru April 19 at The Adrienne Arsht Center, 1300 Biscayne Blvd, Miami, FL 33132. For information or tickets, call 305-985-0899 or visitwww.arshtcenter.org