TORONTO - Sister Act, on stage at Toronto鱿鱼视频app Ed Mirvish Theatre, will awaken your urge to boogie like it鱿鱼视频app 1978.
In Philadelphia, we find wannabe star Deloris Van Cartier in thigh-high purple boots and a short leopard print dress. She鱿鱼视频app just seen her married lover murder a man and now, under witness protection, the police have hidden her in the last place anyone would think to look 鈥� a convent.
Whoopi Goldberg, one of the musical鱿鱼视频app producers, who first played Deloris on-screen, made Sister Act the film popular in 1992. And it is with this memory that many theatregoers walked into the performance. But with Ta鈥橰ea Campbell as Deloris on stage, it鱿鱼视频app easy to forget anyone else donned the black and white habit.
Campbell鱿鱼视频app transformation from nightclub diva to divine singer was believable, while never losing the boisterous (in the best sense) personality of her character.
鈥淪he lacks a bit of self-control,鈥� Campbell said about Deloris in an interview with The Catholic Register. 鈥淣ot in a bad way. Just in a way that she only knows how to be one person and that鱿鱼视频app herself. And sometimes, we as adults get to modify our behaviour when we鈥檙e in certain situations, and I don鈥檛 think Deloris Van Cartier is able to do that.鈥�
It鱿鱼视频app this freedom of spirit that comically conflicts with the convent鱿鱼视频app Mother Superior, played by Hollis Resnik.
鈥淚 have to embody this very stern, rigid, pious nun,鈥� said Resnik. 鈥淭here鱿鱼视频app a stoicism about her, there鱿鱼视频app a strong belief system in her.鈥�
An entire musical number is devoted to Mother Superior attempting to put Deloris in her place. Mother is traditional where Deloris likes change, stiff where Deloris is flexible, quiet where Deloris is loud and conservative where Deloris is anything but.
Though the characters are butting heads, the actors are in sync, finishing each other鱿鱼视频app sentences during the interview.
鈥淒eloris Van Cartier would like to take a bedazzler and bedazzle the habit if she could,鈥� said Campbell. 鈥淢aybe I can jazz this outfit up a little bit,鈥� she said mimicking her character鱿鱼视频app attitude.
鈥淚t doesn鈥檛 cry out for accessories,鈥� replied Resnik instantly in Mother Superior-mode.
The cast has great chemistry, but the music remains the main draw. If patrons expect songs from the movie, they will be slightly disappointed. Though productions such as this attract patrons who hope it will be a nostalgia-fest based on the film, the audience will still get value for their dollar because the show includes an original score by Alan Menken with lyrics by Glenn Slater. Hits such as 鈥淢y God鈥� from the film have been replaced with 鈥淭ake Me To Heaven鈥� where the nuns belt out cheeky lines, such as 鈥淚鈥檒l take any vow, just take me now鈥� and 鈥淚鈥檒l get on my knees, just take me please.鈥�
In 鈥淪unday Morning Fever,鈥� the sisters encourage the faithful to 鈥渟hake it like you鈥檙e Mary Magdalene.鈥�
Breakout musical performances also include Kinglsey Leggs as Curtis Jackson, Deloris鱿鱼视频app mobster boyfriend, singing 鈥淲hen I Find My Baby.鈥� Effortlessly switching from a sinister to a sweet tone, he promises to never let his baby go. Jackson鱿鱼视频app clueless henchmen, played by Charles Barksdale, Todd A. Horman and Ernie Pruneda, also deliver a completely satisfying performance when they brainstorm via song ways to tempt the celibate nuns. In 鈥淟ady In The Long Black Dress鈥� they promise to give the sisters something to confess.
Opening night was filled with plenty of laughs, including from the nuns in the audience. But there is a take home message in Deloris鱿鱼视频app unexpected journey from sin to redemption, from loneliness to discovering the joy of sisterhood.
鈥淛ust be good to each other, no matter what the circumstances are,鈥� said Resnik. 鈥淭here鱿鱼视频app always something to be learned and found in every relationship.鈥�
No matter your religious beliefs, said Campbell, 鈥淚t鱿鱼视频app important to be good hearted, it鱿鱼视频app important to respect other people, respect their journey, respect their path (and) respect their soul.鈥� Amen, sister.