Thu. November 15, 2012
By Michael J. Roberts
If you and your family are looking for two fantastic hours of comedy, joy and some of the best disco music written since the 1970's, well then, get thee to the nunnery because Sister Act has arrived. Sister Act, the musical version of the hit 1992 Whoopi Goldberg film has opened for a limited run at the Auditorium Theatre. From the moment the lights go up, you know are in for treat as this first National touring company has a cast that rivals and surpasses the original London production I saw a few years back. The physical production itself has also changed when Sister Act crossed the ocean to open on Broadway. With Jerry Zak taking over the direction, songs were cut, others added and the script was tightened. The Broadway recently closed in August and this tour is said to be an almost exact replica of that version (Ms. Goldberg remains as a producer).
This tour of Sister Act contains a cast that is far superior than the prior version I saw starting with the amazing Ta'rea Campbell as Deloris. Ms. Campbell is at all times believable, possesses great comic timing and has fantastic on stage chemistry with Hollis Resnik's Mother Superior, who commands every scene she is in. Ms. Resnik, who just won another Jeff Award for her amazing performance in Gary Griffin's Follies" is, simply put, one of the best stage actresses around.
The supporting cast is also sensational, with Kingsley Leggs offering a hilarious and vocally dominant performance as Deloris killer boyfriend and E. Clayton Cornelius is perfectly cast as "Sweaty Eddie" who has the audience cheering for him the moment he comes on stage. However, it is Lael Van Keuren's vocals as Sister Mary Robert with the song "The Life I Never Led" that alone is worth the price of admission.
Judging from the audience reaction on opening night, Sister Act is one of those shows that could sustain a long run in a downtown theater The crowd was on their feet all the way through curtain call and that was the same reaction the show received in London. There is something miraculously infectious about Sister Act and with the holiday season again upon us, this is the perfect show to ignite your spirit.
Sister Act runs until December 2, 2012 at The Auditorium Theatre at Roosevelt University, 50 East Congress Parkway. Performances are Tuesdays 7:30 p.m., Wednesdays at 2 p.m. and 7:30 p.m., Thursdays at 7:30 p.m. except Thanksgiving), Fridays at 7:30 p.m. (plus a 3 p.m. show on November 23rd), Saturdays at 2 and 8 p.m. and Sundays at 2 p.m. with an added 7:30 p.m. on November 18th.
Tickets range from $28-$103 and can be purchased at the Auditorium box office or any Broadway In Chicago box office, including the Kiosk at Water Tower Place, by phone at The Broadway In Chicago Ticket line, 800-775-2000, at all Ticketmaster outlets and online at www.BroadwayinChicago.com For calendar information, please visit www.theatreinchicago.com
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