Sister Act, music by Alan Menken, lyrics by Glenn Slater, book by Cheri Steinkellner and Bill Steinkellner, based on the movie written by Joseph Howard, is a gentle, really funny, silly, sweet musical with a familiar plot: saw a killing, on the run from killers, hide in disguise ("Some Like it Hot"). The narrative works beautifully as a singer on the run (the dyunamoic Patina Miler) enters a convent disguised as a nun and meets two of the best singers on Broadway: Victoria Clark as Mother Superior and Marla Mindelle as a postulant.
Directed by Jerry Zaks with flash, sparkle and wild imagination, with fun costumes by Lez Brotherston, a smoothly active set by Klara Zieglerova with lighting by the super Natasha Katz, really cute choreography by Anthony Van Laast, the show gives us the cheeriest nuns on the planet. The chorus is great: they sing, they dance. The 70's Disco beat still works, and the songs are melodic. Because the show's mockery is good-natured and good spirited, Sister Act is a rare treat: a feel-good family show. You'll walk out smiling I betcha.
