“There are no words,” Mother Superior says to Deloris, describing the mediocrity of the nuns’ choir before Delores can transform the group into a funky ensemble riddled with soul and power. The statement also rings true (except positively, now) in that putting into words the dedication and talent put into Notre Dame’s production of “Sister Act” would be nothing but an understatement.

“Sister Act,” based on the 1992 film of the same name, follows the tale of wannabe pop star Doloris Van Cartier, as she witnesses her boyfriend Curtis commit a murder, and therefore, have to be whisked into witness protection, ending up in custody of the Queen of Angels convent. Dolores’ outgoing personality immediately butts heads with the traditionalist head nun Mother Superior, but she quickly finds her niche in leading the nuns’ choir.

Notre Dame’s production is executed successfully, with tremendous vocal ability spread evenly among the leading and supporting characters. The premise’s reality truly sinks in through the character development of Deloris and the nuns, as the nuns are able to humble Deloris and show her she doesn’t need fame and attention to be worth something, and Deloris convinces the nuns to loosen up and diverge away from the stringent rules of the convent.

Mumbi Wainaina gives a commanding and confident portrayal of Deloris, perfectly conveying her glitz, glamour, and sassy sense of humor. After slightly shaky vocals on the opening number, Wainaina is able to bounce back belting “Fabulous, Baby!” accompanied by her eye-rolling back-up dancers. Her voice proves to be the driving force of the show, developing the sounds of the nuns’ choir, and leading numbers like “Raise Your Voice,” nailing impressive high notes the whole time. Mark Sucoloski co-stars as Sweaty Eddie, the cop hired to protect Deloris. His enormously powerful vocals were showcased beautifully in “I Could Be That Guy,” where he finally builds the courage to act on his feelings for Deloris. In addition to this, his matter-of-fact dry humor keeps him from being scene as a weak character as he faces the taunts of many characters for his hyper-perspiration.

Many of the supporting nuns met by Deloris prove to be the stand-outs of the show. Maddie Saldana’s Mother Superior was truly versatile character, as she transitioned between the curt defiance in leading her sisters and the sarcasm in her monologues of prayers to God to ask for strength to deal with Deloris. All the while, Saldana delivers some of the show’s strongest vocal performances, on songs like “Here Within These Walls.” Olivia Aubele notably portrays a substantial amount of character development in her performance of Sister Mary Robert, as she evolves from whispers and restraint to revealing her major vocal ability and yearn for a life beyond the convent, all catalyzed by her belief in Deloris. In addition, there was not a moment when the audience wasn’t laughing at Noelani Won’s performance of Sister Mary Lazarus, as her raspy rapping and over-the-top dance moves never fell flat.

The technical aspects only added to the show, as sets like the stained glass windows of the church and the liquor shelves of the dive bars were meticulously crafted. The lighting was minimal, yet effective, only centering on characters when they were ready to belt another anthem.

“Sister Act” proves to be an energetic production, with an in-sync cast of cohesive vocal and dance numbers, complimented with light humor, sprinkling in laughs in between moments of awe at the immense vocal talent.

by Jason Fontelieu of Dulaney