Hunter Schaufel is sleezy club owner Curtis in the Justin-Siena High School production of “Sister Act,” being performed at the Lincoln Theater in Yountville through next Sunday. (Photo by Sasha Craig)

Review By Elizabeth Warnimont
Special to the Herald

Spunky Justin-Siena High School senior Tyler Bertani rocks the lead as young soul singer Deloris Van Cartier in Alan Menken’s musical, “Sister Act,” on stage at the Lincoln Theater in Yountville through April 2. Bertani kills the lead role, but beautifully-choreographed dance numbers (Lisa Clark Schmeling) and priceless sixties-seventies costumes (Sylvia Gregory) round out the spectacle with a delightful mix of sass and pizzazz.
The Justin-Siena band, conducted by Vivian Bayubay McLaughlin, sets the tone at the outset, sparkling with the aid of some funky, happy tones from the brass. Bertani lends some enticing energy to her opening solo, while cleverly holding back enough to surprise us with her soulful best in subsequent scenes.
Bertani’s costume is comical, and appropriately so for the naive disco star-wannabe of her character, but what a shame for such a powerhouse to be adorned in leopard and candy-pink vinyl!
Deloris has pinned her star-crossed hopes on sleezy, married club owner/gangster Curtis, played swimmingly by Justin-Siena senior Hunter Schaufel in bell-bottom pinstripe suit, tan leather jacket and ever-present half-smoked cigarette. Curtis’ cohorts are by the way also a joy to watch in their double-knits and now-retro long, “natural” hairstyles, swaying in sync to the disco strains.
Deloris’ illicit lover soon becomes her feared enemy, after she witnesses him shooting a suspected stoolpigeon. Deloris manages to escape the crime scene, but now must be safely stowed if she’s going to live to appear as a witness at Curtis’ upcoming murder trial.
Former schoolmate and still-admirer Eddy (junior Michael Rupprecht), now a rookie police officer, has a brilliant idea: they’ll never look for Deloris in a convent. And wouldn’t you know it? The convent happens to be in dire need of some kind of “spiritual” awakening.
The mother superior (senior Rachel Carey) has a hard time accepting Deloris as the answer to the church’s prayers, but she dutifully obeys her monsignor (sophomore Feras Halabi) and does her best to acclimate Deloris to convent life.
One part of Deloris’ new cloister routine is participation in the chapel choir. The colorless, off-key ensemble immediately assaults Deloris’ ears, yet she takes a stab at livening the sisters’ musical spirits and eventually succeeds in bringing them to a point where visitors to the chapel start bringing their friends to hear their joyous sound, filling the pews and – much to the monsignor’s unbridled jubilation – the collection plates begin to spill over with coin.
Carey brings a stunning, moving voice to the person of the gentle mother superior, a perfect complement to sassy counterpart Bertani as Deloris. All of the main characters do a good job both acting and singing, and the ensemble dancers lend an infectious spirit to the general flow of the production.
The play is long, running nearly three hours including a 15-minute intermission, but the pace is quick and the dance numbers are lively and colorful, all adding up to a highly enjoyable theater experience.
Go and see this tremendous troupe, and be reminded of the impact a little arts education can have on a community. These young thespians, under the capable direction of James Thomas Bailey and choreographer Schmeling, have pulled off a smash hit.

If you go:
“Sister Act” continues at the Lincoln Theater, 100 California Dr., Yountville through Sunday, April 2. Tickets are $25 and are available by calling the box office at 944-9900 or online at lincolntheater.com. Note: Friday and Saturday performances begin at 7:30 p.m.

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