Cappies Review: 'The Sister Act' At Alexandria City High School

By Charlotte Keshap of H-B Woodlawn Secondary Program

Bless it all! Student director, Abigail Gerstein's rendition of "Sister Act" at Alexandria City High School rocked the crowd. Adapted from a 1992 film, Sister Act is an uproarious comedy about the trials and tribulations of being a raucous club performer in disguise as a nun.

After witnessing the incredible vocal and dance performance in Act 1, not only was one taken to heaven by lead actress Lilac Haynesworth as Deloris, but also deeply rooted to the ground by the hilarious ensemble of goofy mobsters - the kooky boss, Curtis, played by Lucas Trueblood, and his band of bumbling cronies: Joey, played by Silas Adkins-Hooke, TJ, played by August Taylor, and Pablo, played by Kai Avila. Together, the actors formed a unit which evoked the loudest laughs of the night.

Especially clever was Gerstein's inclusion of a chase scene between Deloris and the gang, which wound through the audience aisles while a spotlight done by lights specialist Virginia "Jesse" Jones followed their every move. During this comedic pursuit, the ACHS Stage Crew stealthily moved across the stage, to completely turn over the set to the next scene. Props to Stage Manager Nora Malone for calling the simultaneous scene change and chase without missing a beat.

Not every moment was quite so funny, however. Several mid-show numbers demonstrated the vocal prowess of supporting actors Naeem Scott as the touching and impressive "Sweaty" Eddie, Mariel Carr as Sister Mary Robert, and once again, the impressive Lilac Haynesworth who not only was able to portray Deloris as a fun-loving partier, but also a person who loved her convent sisters just as much as the music.

The ensemble of nuns, comprised of about 15 young women, were the real draw of the show. "Sister Act," at its heart, is a show about sisterhood. The importance of coming together and supporting one another is the message which persevered. Not only were these young women fantastic vocalists and dancers, but they also managed to fill the stage with a buzz unlike any other: constantly capturing the audience's attention even when every single soul onstage was seated at a desk. Sister Mary Patrick, played by Maria McLemore was a distinctive leader onstage, while Sister Mary Lazarus, played by Neya Alper offered the comedic support necessary for this show.

In all, "Sister Act" at ACHS was a show which was expertly put together. A blend of beautiful voices in addition to a backstage team of students made it so that every moment was on point. It was undeniably fabulous, baby!

"Sister Act" was performed April 21, 22, 23, 27, 28 and 29 at Alexandria City High School.