Sister Act: A Fur Coat Made From Smurfs
“You get a car; you get a car; YOU ALL GET A CAR!”
After seeing Oprah Winfrey’s infamous generosity on TV numerous times, it’s understandable that I would want to be sitting in those seats when she decides to hand out “free” gifts; if you count a $7,000 tax on the car as “free”.
When I sat down and watched the first few minutes of Sister Act at the Orpheum Theatre, running now until June 1st, I was absolutely enthralled with the show. However, as I learned from Oprah, nothing good comes without a price.
Based off of the 1992 comedy, Sister Act follows the life of Deloris Van Cartier; a disco singer who longs to be under the spotlight that so many new artists (except for her) seem to be receiving. After an unfortunate murder that she happened to witness, Deloris finds herself not pursuing her dream of performing, but hiding out in a convent. Instead of glamour, glitter, and glory, Deloris is surrounded by nuns, prayer, and worst of all: mutton.
Words cannot express how entertaining this show was. From nuns taking back vows of charity to a lovable character nicknamed “Sweaty Eddie”, Sister Act was about as entertaining as it could get. But even so, “entertaining” is a word that can be used to describe a popular GIF of a manatee running into a glass wall. It’s not necessarily good for the manatee, which could easily have a concussion for all we know, but it’s something that viewers can laugh at because how ridiculous it is. All the same, the actors and musicians were undoubtedly talented. Ta’Rea Campbell (Deloris) stunned the audience with her powerful vocals, Chester Gregory (Eddie Souther) deserved a hug after his performance of “I Could Be That Guy”, and Ashley Moniz (Mary Robert) made my heart clench with her pure voice and heartfelt rendition of “The Life I Never Led”. Despite their talent, the jokes became too much. They would appear too often, and would often be based off the same stereotyping template. I would have loved to see more of hilarity caused by the characters themselves instead of subjecting their comedy to punch lines and jests, such as “When I Find My Baby” and “I Could Be That Guy”. Despite the amazing talent and easy-to-follow storyline, I felt like a book of jokes had been shoved down my throat by the end of the show.
One part of the show that I truly enjoyed was the technical aspect. Even to the audience, the self-moving set pieces were hilarious and fascinating in itself. The multi-colored lighting was perfect for the disco era the show took place in, and instead of distracting the audience, added to the performance by making the audience feel as if they were in a 60s / 70s concert. I must applaud the sound tech for its astounding accuracy, and also the set designers for creating a bedazzled Virgin Mary statue to go with the shimmering nun costumes.
To put it briefly, my feelings about this show were mixed. Like a blue fur coat made from Smurfs, there are parts that I absolutely love and parts that make me gag. I adore Smurfs, but a blue fur coat isn’t exactly attractive. For those who simply want a night filled with laughter at all things ridiculous, come see the show!
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