Sister Act

Reviewed by Julia Stier
TNH Productions, El Centro del Pueblo, and Riboli Family San Antonio Winery in Association with Behind the Mask Inc.
Through May 19

CASA 0101 takes audiences to church in their current production, Sister Act, directed by Rigo Tejeda.

Originally a music-fueled film (written by Joseph Howard with musical arrangements by Marc Shaiman), Sister Act first hit the silver screen in 1992. Repurposing pop songs into lively hymns, it starred Whoopi Goldberg as nightclub singer Deloris Van Cartier, who goes into hiding in a convent after witnessing a murder. At first Deloris does not fit in and is constantly at odds with the Mother Superior (played by the inimitable Maggie Smith) — but she soon finds herself appointed the new director of the nuns’ choir. An unexpected transformation happens as Deloris taps into the power of music and sisterhood to uplift the church and the women who have devoted their lives to it.

This stage variant (with lyrics by Glenn Slater, music by Alan Menken, and book by Cheri and Bill Steinkellner) preserves the same basic premise as the film, but unfortunately the writers bury the message under a slew of disco music in their attempt to make the story more theatrical. Stripped of the songs from the original movie, it fails to capture how Deloris finds a way to meld the secular and the religious world together.

In this production, the ladies take the lead. Jacquelin Lorraine Schofield is delightfully expressive as Deloris Van Cartier, dubbed Sister Mary Clarence once she enters the convent. Briana Bonilla is an absolute ball of joy as Sister Mary Patrick, while Samantha M. Lawrence as Sister Mary Robert makes a wonderful transformation from quiet church mouse to a young woman finding her own voice. Beverly Crain fashions a stern Mother Superior, but rounds out the character with wonderful, subtle moments of comedy. The rest of the order consists of Sister Mary Lazarus (Dorrie Braun), Sister Mary Martin-of-Tours (Sarah J. Garcia), Sister Mary Theresa (Megan Frances), and a few unnamed nuns portrayed by Chrissi Erikson, Laura Altenor, Shanelle Garcia, Daniela Santi, and Leilah Telon.

As the gun-slinging Curtis, Marco Infante delivers one of the production’s most humorous and memorable songs, the murderous love ballad “When I Find My Baby.”

Also featured are Omar Mara as Monsignor O’Hara, Caleb Green as Eddie Souther, Matthew Noah as TJ, Jason Biyo (Joey), Gil Garcia as Pablo, and Michael Gallardo and Alejandro Lechuga as ensemble members.

CASA 0101 Theatre, 2102 E. 1st St., Boyle Heights; Fri., 8 p.m.,; Sat., 2 p.m. & 8 p.m.; Sun., 4 p.m.; through May 19. (323) 263-7684 or www.casa0101.org. Running time: 135 minutes with a 15-minute intermission.