Leap of Faith, the 1992 Paramount film starring Steve Martin, has now been turned into a full-out, gospel-tinged musical by the LA-based Center Theater Group. Original screenwriter Janus Cercone was brought back to write the book, along with Glenn Slater, who also wrote the lyrics (to Alan Menken's music). Both Slater and Menken have toiled long, hard and successfully for Disney -- especially on "The Little Mermaid."
The Disney touch is very much in evidence on Leap; the songs are bright, catchy and (mostly) sentimental. They clash sometimes with Cercone's sharp-edged, satirical story, although it, too, becomes gooey as melted chocolate in the ninth inning.
In the Steve Martin role as Jonas, the itinerant evangelist who has spent a lifetime ripping people off with his Jesus-loves-ya' routines, is Raul Esparza. His energy, fire and dynamism give Leap of Faith the drive and excitement it badly needs. Esparza gets a lot of help, too, from the gospel-shouting, tambourine-slapping members of his troupe, especially from Kendra Kassebaum as his sister Sam (Debra Winger in the film), Krystal Joy Brown as the sexy, booty-shakin' Ornella, and Kecia Lewis-Evans as Ida Mae, the lead gospel-shouter.
The Sweetwater, Kansas rubes who serve as Jonas' prey are led by Marva McGowan (the so-so Brooke Shields) -- Lolita Davidovich in the film -- a widowed waitress who catches Jonas' eye and eventually shows him the error of his con-man ways. Marva's crippled 11-year-old son, played by the remarkable Nicholas Barasch, contributes strongly to this transformation by dint of his indomitable belief in faith and redemption -- and of his lusty singing voice.
CTG's world-premiere production of Leap of Faith is obviously aimed at Broadway. Corny as it often is, the show has a lot of heart and warmth. It's also slick and entertaining. With a lot of pruning (and much better choreography), it could very well become a commercial success.
