Sister Act: A Divine Musical Comedy
ActUp Theater
Martin Luther King Jr. Middle School
Hartford
Through Sunday, Dec. 10
I’m gonna cut to the chase: Go see ActUp Theater’s performance of Sister Act: A Divine Musical Comedy. It’s nothing short of spectacular.
I knew it would be good, but I mostly went to Martin Luther King Jr. Middle School’s auditorium expecting to experience a big helping of nostalgia. Sister Act is one of my favorite movies of all time, and I still find myself listening to the soundtrack of Sister Act 2. So I would have been content with any show that reminded me of the good times I’ve had rewatching those movies.
Last night’s performance blew me away though. I was surprised at the two-and-a-half-hour runtime considering that the movie was only 100 minutes long. But the production made the decision to combine both movies into one musical with no intermission. I’m so glad that they did, because I didn’t want the show to end.
Breonna Walker gives a standout performance as Deloris, the Vegas lounge singer who is forced to hide in a convent after witnessing a murder. She channels the comedic genius of Whoopi Goldberg while layering her own multitude of talents on top, including a beautiful voice, stylish dancing and a stage presence that draws all eyes to her. It was my first time seeing Ms. Walker perform, and I sincerely hope it’s the first of many.
The other top-billed performer is Kayla Prioleau, who plays the part of Rita Wilson originated by Lauryn Hill in Sister Act 2. She brings fire and sass to the role as the recalcitrant star of St. Mary’s music class. Beyond her acting abilities, Ms. Prioleau wowed the entire audience with the power and clarity of her voice. It’s clear that she has a bright future ahead of her as a performer.
Of course, no successful production can be carried only by its leads, and the supporting cast of Sister Act all brought their A game. Rebecca Robotham displayed the perfect mix of stern disciplinarian and caring leader as Mother Superior. Jamar Bailey as Sketch and Frankie Villafane as Frankie were a great pairing, playing off each other’s energy and infusing the production with a cool hip-hop vibe. And the nuns were all hilarious. My personal favorite was Sister Mary Stephen, played with exuberance by Patricia Frame. She stole every scene that she was in.
The music, choreography and costumes were all outstanding. Even though I’ve listened to these songs hundreds of times, Sister Act brought them to life in a brand new way for me. There’s nothing like seeing music performed live, and watching a cast full of people of color performing at a level that was Broadway-worthy was truly a special feeling.
ActUp Theater has been producing stage shows for years now, led by the incredible family team of Faithlyn Johnson, Priestly Johnson and Tyler Johnson. These three women are showing everyone that world-class talent and productions can be found right here in Hartford. They are not only entertaining, but empowering both performers and audiences to imagine what’s possible with hard work and sacrifice. It was great to see Black and Latino children having the opportunity to shine as brightly as they did.
Go see this play because it’s amazing. Go see this play because it’s a worthy cause. Go see this play because these talented performers deserve your support and your money. Just go see this play.
NEXT
Sister Act: A Divine Musical Comedy continues at the Martin Luther King Jr. Middle School Auditorium through Sunday, Dec. 10.
Jamil is taking the weekend off. Catch you next week!
