Sister Act, the Musical
at Sunny Hills

Reviewed on October 17, 2019

Claudia Fiallo
Fullerton Union
Submitted for publication to OC Cappies

Sister Act is simply fabulous, baby!
written by Claudia Fiallo, a senior at Fullerton Union High School

Sunny Hills High School takes us to heaven as they stage the disco and joyous infused musical Sister Act. Powerful gospel music, and outrageous dancing tell the moving story of a diva Deloris Van Cartier (Ashley Shin) who is forced to hide from her dangerous boyfriend in a convent where she discovers true friendship and community, and teaches the nuns a thing or two about singing and dancing.

Robert Dickey captures the audiences' hearts as Eddie. Sweaty and all, Dickey wonderfully executes the charming awkwardness that desires to win Deloris's favor. Dickey takes us on Eddie's confidence journey with such raw intensity, whether through his vocals in "I Could Be That Guy" or his disco dance moves, Dickey truly embodies the beloved character, tear-away sequined vest and all.

Despite Deloris's "glamorous" life, the Sisters of the Queen of Angels Cathedral shows us just how good it is to be a nun! Each nun has an individual personality that blends together beautifully onstage. Their joyous numbers "It's Good To Be A Nun" and "Bless Our Show" are sung with enthusiasm and a starry-eyed look in each of their faces.

Technical elements were beautifully executed in the performance. Any time the scene changes to the Queen of Angels Cathedral, the stained-glass windows are lowered and reflect perfectly in the
stage lights. The windows are painted to look like stained glass with light colors that match the set pieces. The confession booth is also built wonderfully, the divider used appropriately to indicate laughter within the serious conversations between Mother Superior (Jessica Cloninger) and Monsignor O'Hara (JJ Sigler).

Costumer Designers Violet Kim and Isabella Lunsford capture the time period perfectly with their sequin-infused costumes. Anytime Deloris is outside of the convent she was dressed in something fabulous. From her first audition dress which blends wonderfully with her backup singers' outfits, to the bright bold sparkly jumper at the play's end, something completely appropriate for Deloris's shiny personality. Outside of the convent, all the costumes are bright and bold; definitely the perfect way to capture the disco time period.

Throughout the numerous dances and songs, Sunny Hills's production leave its audience speechless.

Bella DeMarco
Tesoro
Submitted for publication to OC Cappies Facebook

Sunny Hills turns groovy with "Sister Act"
written by Bella DeMarco, a sophomore at Tesoro High School

Sparkling sequins and groovy music open Sunny Hills High School's lively production of "Sister Act." Deloris Van Cartier, an aspiring disco singer in the 70s, finds herself in danger after witnessing her boyfriend commit a cold-blooded murder. Reluctantly taking refuge as a nun in order to hide from him and his slimy gang, hilarity ensues as the glamorous Deloris navigates her way through a world of divine simplicity.

Ashley Shin, portraying Deloris, embodies the character's flamboyant personality with her physicality, confidently swaying her hips as she walks with one hand on her waist and the other gesturing with attitude. Throughout the show, Shin develops into a more humble woman while managing to preserve much of Deloris' flare, keeping the character true to who she is.

Playing Eddie, an awkward policeman, Robert Dickey humorously lives up to his character's nickname of "Sweaty Eddie". He reveals his insecurity as he nervously fidgets with his hands, wipes his forehead, and clumsily moves about the stage with a slouched posture. Dickey displays versatility when he brings out a hidden side of Eddie, switching his demeanor to confident, puffing out his chest and strongly grounding himself as he sings about being a fearless man for Deloris.

As Sister Mary Patrick, Paige Zell keeps her character's excitement and energy throughout the entirety of the show, often jumping with thrill and maintaining a bubbly voice. Her face always lit up with a smile, Zell never fails to provide entertaining facial expressions.

The comical trio of TJ (Shaun Im), Joey (Daniel Johnson), and Pablo (Zion Mejia) hilariously stops the show with their song "Lady in the Long Black Dress". Grooving to the music, these three gangsters amusingly move their hips flirtatiously as they sing about how to attract a nun.

Costumes, by Violet Kim and Isabella Lunsford, excellently reflect the 70s era with colorful go-go boots, disco dresses, and sequined outfits that glimmer in the stage lights. The designers also create a smooth onstage costume transition for Eddie, unexpectedly changing his costume from police officer to disco dancer and back to police officer.

Set design, by Lancer Theatre Tech, displays great contrast of settings, with hand-painted stained glass windows for the church and realistic graffiti on an alley brick wall.

With entertaining characters, colorful costumes, and admirable energy, Sunny Hills High School's "Sister Act" is "Fabulous, Baby!"

Cooper Miller
Fullerton Union
Submitted for publication to OC Cappies Facebook

It's Good to be a Nun at Sunny Hills' Sister Act
written by Cooper Miller, a senior at Fullerton Union High School

In the 1970's, disco is all the rage, but for the Sisters of the Queen of Angels Cathedral in Southern Philadelphia it is the 17th century Latin Hymns that "spice up" their lives. However, when a colorful diva sees more than she should, she is forced into hiding with the all-but colorful nuns. She rocks their world and adds a little shimmer to their devout lives.

Daniel Mayfield, who plays Ernie, incites bouts of laughter through his slight mannerisms and his quick-witted gestures. Though his time as Ernie is cut short by his on-stage death, he really shines as an altar boy during the cathedral's Sunday mass. Although the presence of the holy spirit puts the nuns in a groove, he becomes more enticed with the holy spirit's presence on the back of his eyelids. The moment is absolutely hilarious and cannot be beat. He is outrageously comical and will not cease to put a smile on your face.

Jessica Cloninger does an amazing job at capturing the frailty and the spiritual personality of Mother Superior. Cloninger speaks with an open jaw to deliver the voice of an old woman flawlessly. When the nuns perform their groovy hymns she has an instant physical reaction to the music that is incredibly comedic and true to the character. The physicality that Cloninger brings to Superior is also extremely realistic. Her incredible vocals and iconic physicality is absolutely brilliant.

The costume design by Violet Kim, while simple, is also accurate and efficient. The scenes that take place outside of the convent are true to the period with girls in gogo boots and dresses that are covered in sequins. The costume change for Eddie during the song "I Could Be That Guy" is perfectly timed and wonderfully executed.

Krista Mansfield and Rebecca Back design the lighting for the show. During the convent invasion in Act 2, the way that the lights hit the stained glass windows allow the windows to change color to match the mood of the scene, which adds to the tension in the room.

Sunny Hills gives you a heart warming and groovy story that will make you bop around in your seat and tap your foot to the beat in the form of Sister Act.