Sister Act First Preview- Page 5

[somethingwicked]

Posted: 3/27/11 at 10:35am

In seeing SISTER ACT this week, I couldn't help but think of the parallels between the creative process that brought it here with WONDERLAND. Both are shows based on familiar source material that have had multiple productions with key creative team changes for New York. The difference is that it appears (from what I'm told) that WONDERLAND has gotten progressively worse with each incarnation, where as SISTER ACT has gotten progressively better. I am happy to say that the New York production is absolutely fantastic.

Having seen multiple incarnations of the show (from the first reading in Los Angeles to now,) I can't say enough about how pleased I was with Doug Carter Beane's book. It's tight, funny, smart, and completely re-informs the tone of the piece in a brilliant way. For the first time in the show's history, the book is finally on the level of the score. Every single joke landed big, and the emotionally resonant moments were beautifully executed. I particularly like how Beane reinforced Deloris's lack of faith in Christianity, even at the end. The final scene with her and Mother Superior about how faith in a higher power and faith in the power of people can be equally important was genius. It removes the ambiguity of this being a possible "conversion story" that some of the critics in London raised questions about.

In terms of the cast, they were all fantastic. Patina Miller has benefited most from the new book. Now that she really has meaty material to dig into, she's completely running with it, and the full potential of her performance has finally been realized. If this role doesn't bring her "a star is born" acclaim and a slew of awards, there's no justice in the world. I also loved Vicki Clark, and the two of them had terrific chemistry. The supporting players, from Demond Green to Marla Mindelle, all also made huge use of their individual moments.

My one suggestion would be taking out "It's Good To Be A Nun" and replacing it back with "How I Got The Calling," which I know is something they're thinking about doing already. The problem they're having with that moment in the show is that they don't want the nuns to be singing before Deloris teaches them to, which I know is something people here have questioned too, but I think the latter song is much funnier and establishes the same point. They could certainly work with the arrangements of it to make it even more "speak-sing"-y, which wouldn't be too hard given how much of a conversational song it already is anyway.

Other than that, I see this being a huge hit. Let it serve as a lesson to the development of future material that anything is possible with the right amount of revisionary work, because the transformation in the show from six years ago to now is truly astounding.

Updated On: 3/27/11 at 10:35 AM

[Sant]

Posted: 3/27/11 at 10:43am

Personally, I don't mind the song "Lady in a long black dress". I'd rather see the boring "I could be that guy" being cut.

Current song list is:


ACT I:

"Take me to heaven" - Deloris, Michelle, Tina
"Fabulous baby" - Deloris, Michelle, Tina
"Here within these walls" - Mother Superior, Deloris
"It's good to be a nun" - Deloris, Mary Patrick, Mary Robert, Mary Lazarus, nuns
"When I find my baby" - Curtis, Joey, Pablo, TJ
"I could be that guy" - Eddie, bums
"Raise your voice" - Deloris, M. Patrick, M.Robert, M.Lazarus, nuns
"Take me to heaven" (rep.) - Deloris, M.Patrick, M.Robert, M.Lazarus, nuns

ACT II:

"Sunday morning fever" - Deloris, Mother Superior, Mons. O'Hara, Eddie, M.Patrick, M.Robert, M.Lazarus, nuns, Workers
"Lady in the long black dress" - Joey, Pablo, TJ
"Haven't got a prayer" - Mother Superior
"Bless our show" - Deloris, M.Patrick, M.Robert, M.Lazarus, nuns
"The life I never led" - Mary Robert
"Fabulous baby" (rep.) - Deloris, Eddie, nuns, fantasy dancers
"Sister act" - Deloris
"When I find my baby" (rep.) - Curtis
"The life I never led" (rep.) - Mary Robert
"Sister act" (rep.) - Deloris, Mother Superior, M.Patrick, M.Robert, M.Lazarus, nuns
"Spread the love around" - the company

[jv92]

Posted: 3/27/11 at 10:51am

Speaking of "I Could Be That Guy"-- what was with the chorus of hobos? Really? And the "Black Dress" number is just pure silliness in the stupidest sense and slows the story down when things could be zippier.

Nice to see Alan Menken there last night. I also saw some creative staff taking notes, etc., so I know things will get even better.

[somethingwicked]

Posted: 3/27/11 at 10:56am

The problems with "I Could Be That Guy" are directional issues that Zaks needs to work out with Chester Gregory, the one principal I don't think has quite found his footing yet (although I think he'll get there.)

For those slower sections of the song, he just stared off into the same exact point of the mezzanine without moving his body or his eyes at all for long stretches of time. It was incredibly boring to watch, so they need to either give him something more to do there in terms of movement or just direct him to maintain a level of energy that's not so static.

Fundamentally, I think he's a bit miscast, to be honest, but when the song opens up to to that big soulful section, he certainly delivers.

Updated On: 3/27/11 at 10:56 AM

[ljay889]

Posted: 3/27/11 at 11:18am

Act 2 begins with Deloris and Mother Superior in a confessional, with Deloris trying to convince Mother Superior to allow her to stick with the choir.

I LOVED that. Was that in the London production?

[somethingwicked]

Posted: 3/27/11 at 11:18am

ljay, that scene is entirely new. The second act of the London production went straight into "Sunday Morning Fever."

They've scaled back quite a few little musical moments to make room for new scenes conceived by Beane, all of which work really, really well.

Updated On: 3/27/11 at 11:18 AM

[ljay889]

Posted: 3/27/11 at 11:20am

That scene is fantastic.

Updated On: 3/27/11 at 11:20 AM

[somethingwicked]

Posted: 3/27/11 at 11:23am

"Read the memo line of the check." "'Mary, you are fierce.' How'd he know my name was Mary?"

Updated On: 3/27/11 at 11:23 AM

[adamgreer]

Posted: 3/27/11 at 11:24am

The scene in the confessional was hilarious.

[ljay889]

Posted: 3/27/11 at 11:38am

SW, if you had to estimate - how much of the Steinkellner's book would you say actually remains?

I particularly like how Beane reinforced Deloris's lack of faith in Christianity, even at the end. The final scene with her and Mother Superior about how faith in a higher power and faith in the power of people can be equally important was genius.

That was an absolutely beautiful moment. Both actresses NAILED it. Updated On: 3/27/11 at 11:38 AM

[somethingwicked]

Posted: 3/27/11 at 12:03pm

Literally none of what the Steinkellners wrote remains. This truly is a complete and total rewrite. Even the essential structure of what they put in place has been overhauled in some really significant instances (the opening of the show and the opening of the second act are perfect examples of that, where new scenes completely deviate from the previous ones even in terms of location.) You'll notice Beane even changed the names of most of the characters. "KT" and "LaRosa" are now "Michelle" and "Tina," "Monsignor Howard" is now "Monsignor O'Hara," "Bones" and "DiNero" are now "Joey" and "Pablo," "Curtis Shank" is now "Curtis Jackson," Deloris's real name is now "Doris Carter," etc.

Beane has been working on the book since October, and it shows (I know he went and saw the show several times in London to take notes right before it closed.) They did a reading in December of his new version, and he implemented further revisions before they went into rehearsal in February.

Frankly, I was shocked to see Cheri Steinkellner show up to the press meet and greet they had. I don't think she gave very many (if any) interviews, but she sure made it a point to get herself in the photos taken of the creative team. It's nice that everyone is clearly attempting to remain gracious about what is a difficult situation, but neither of the Steinkellners have had any involvement in the rehearsal period for the Broadway production, nor will they have any creative input over the changes being implemented over previews. They got a pretty nice pay out and some stake in the show's future royalties, but they're out of the picture for good.

Updated On: 3/27/11 at 12:03 PM

[jamiekennywicked]

Posted: 3/27/11 at 12:31pm

To me (and this may sound silly) Bones and Dinero are very typical yet unrealistic names for the type of characters they are. Have Tina and Michelle's parts been developed or do they remain the same size? I know in London, KT and LaRosa appeared only in TMTH and FABLOUS, BABY and had one or two lines afterwards. I also don't think they mentioned their names in the show in London. Something minor, but still.

[JamieHT]

Posted: 3/27/11 at 12:43pm

The changes in both Fabulous, Baby! (not as much talk and the introduction talking about nuns, being too this and too that etc.) and its reprise (Eddie singing the introduction) are on the German Cast Recording, so changes were afoot even in December or earlier. The German version of How I Got The Calling is called Meine Offenbarung which I think could mean the same thing. Do the Sacred Mass and Here Within These Walls (reprise) were both on there as well (in German of course).

I will be there in a week and a half to see the Broadway version myself. Some of the changes sound unecessary (i.e. the Cutting of the Prologue, changing when it's set from her Birthday), but the dialogue changes sound very good, and maybe the cuts will make more sense when I see it. I saw the shoe 16.5 times in London and hope the essence of why I fell in love with it is still there (I think it was mainly the songs so it shouldn't be a problem). I will find it strange to adapt to the new Actors, but will love seeing new interpretations, as I always did when Understudies were on.

P.S. I really hope there is a Broadway Recording, as it seems silly to have different songs on there which aren't now in the show (but I guess they could cut Do the Sacred Mass and Here Within These Walls (reprise) from the CD easily enough). I guess it will all depend on how well it does as to whether it will get its own recording.

Updated On: 3/27/11 at 12:43 PM

[bwayfan7000]

Posted: 3/27/11 at 12:49pm

Is "It's Good to Be a Nun" as funny as "How I Got the Calling"? If not, I'm surprised they replaced a really funny song in a new, funnier version of the show.

[Sant]

Posted: 3/27/11 at 2:42pm

JAMIEHT: I loved the show in London, but I think the new version works better. So you don't need to worry - it's every bit as good, if not even better!

BWAYFAN: I personally found "How I got the calling" funnier as whole, but now Deloris's parts are funnier. They have revised the characters (especially Sister Mary Lazarus who's now more like in the film) so the old lyrics for "How I got..." wouldn't really work with the new improved characters.

[tkts]

Posted: 3/27/11 at 3:27pm

Must admit that this show is growing on me after seeing the first preview last Thursday. I downloaded the London recording and have really enjoyed it. I do agree that "How I Got the Calling" should be put back in. It's a fun song.

[winston89]

Posted: 3/27/11 at 4:42pm

I loved the show when I saw it. However, when it came time for It's Good To Be A Nun, I kept mentally putting back in the lyrics of How I Got The Calling. For those who haven't seen the show, the two songs as far as melody go are one in the same, just different lyrics.

[JamieHT]

Posted: 3/27/11 at 7:05pm

Is there any merchandise on sale yet??!

[Mattbrain]

Posted: 3/27/11 at 7:08pm

Well, this is officially on my shortlist alongside The Book of Mormon and War Horse!

[winston89]

Posted: 3/27/11 at 7:16pm

As far as merchandise goes they did have the London cast recording with the new artwork being used for the US printing. And, they also had programs, however, judging by the artwork on those, they were clearly ones for the London production since the cover featured the West End artwork and logo. I feel that those are placeholders and they might feature ones with the Broadway cast when they are done with the PR shots.

[Bettyboy72]

Posted: 3/28/11 at 12:43am

Sadly, I think this show is going to get lost between H2$ and Book of Mormon. It sound far too mediocre to be a huge hit.

[TIGGOSAURUS]

Posted: 3/28/11 at 2:12am

Is "It's Good to Be a Nun" as funny as "How I Got the Calling"?

IMHO: No, not at all. I've discussed this revision with a couple of people who also saw the show in London and none of us could see any good reason for the change. 'HIGTC' was a very funny and uplifting song which served the characters really well - the new song is very flat, formulaic and uninteresting in comparison.

I was expecting quite a few changes to the show but this one took me by surprise, especially because lyrics like 'people always told me I looked like Sally Field' seemed better aimed at US audiences. Overall I thought the portrayals of Mary Patrick, Mary Robert and Mary Lazarus were far funnier in the original - and its omission does them a great dis-service.

[IdinaBellFoster]

Posted: 3/28/11 at 2:25am

I just checked IBDB, and the Steinkellner's are still credited with the Book, so is Beane going uncredited?

[ljay889]

Posted: 3/28/11 at 4:56am

Beane is credited in the playbill with "additional book material."

[winston89]

Posted: 3/28/11 at 8:01am

Also, there is one thing that doesn't make sense with them replacing How I got The Calling to It's Good To Be A Nun. They said that they changed it because they didn't want the nuns to sing before they are taught how to. However, they are still singing in It's Good To Be A Nun. It's not like that song omits any of their singing.