Buckle up, boys and girls. “Sister Act” is about to take you to church.
The latest Arkansas Repertory Theatre production is based on the ’90s movie of the same name, but this time is set in glittery 1977 when Queen Donna Summer reigned supreme.
From the moment the curtain opens on our heroine, the audience is taken on a whirlwind of show-stopping numbers as an aspiring singer goes from downtrodden girlfriend of a deadbeat to murder witness to undercover nun.
At the center of it all is Deloris Van Cartier, played by Soara-Joye Ross, whose pure star power and rock-the-rafters voice leave no doubt that Miss Cartier — and perhaps Miss Ross — are destined for celebrity.
Inside the walls of the convent, ridiculousness and hilarity ensue as Deloris learns to lead the life of a nun under the watchful eye of Mother Superior (played by Tracy Bidleman), a woman on her own winding journey of faith. But of course, Deloris can’t help but teach her new sisters a little something about funk and groove along the way, particularly Sister Mary Robert (Erica Lustig), Sister Mary Lazarus (Susan J. Jacks) and Sister Mary Patrick (Jennie Boone). In short, blessed are these diva nuns, for they shall inherit the stage.
Blessed, too, are Philadelphia’s finest Lt. Eddie Souther (Patrick Clanton) and gangster ex-boyfriend/villain Curtis Jackson (Monté J. Howell), for their sultry vocals and smooth moves are what 70s dreams are made of.
And while we’re at it, blessed are the henchmen (Cornelius Davis, Tony Castellanos and Darryl Winslow), for their attempts to seduce the sisters are laugh-out-loud funny. That goes double for man-of-the-cloth-turned-game-show-host Monsignor O’Hara (P. Jay Clark).
The comedy of “Sister Act” runs the gamut from Scooby-Doo-esque chase sequences to a sharp, tongue-in-cheek self-awareness that the cast pulls off seamlessly, while each song is as catchy and voice as phenomenal as the next. With an endless supply of heart and humor, “Sister Act” is nothing short of joyous.
“Sister Act” runs through Feb. 26. For showtimes and more information, or to purchase tickets online, visit The Rep’s website. You can also call (501) 378-0405 or visit the theater’s box office downtown at 601 Main St., Little Rock.