Leap of Faith: The Musical
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https://www.northshoretheatrecompany.org
Date Reviewed: 05/10/2018
Love and miracles are put to the test in this Play
The North Shore Theatre Company tests love and miracles with the Tony Award Nominated Leap of Faith production. The musical is based on the 1992 film of the same name that starred Steve Martin and Debra Winger. Leap of Faith is filled with music, humour and love and is a must see this October!
Reverend' Jonas Nightingale (Mateo Morchio), is a part-time reverend and a full-time con artist, who is travelling with his ministry. When his bus breaks down in the middle of a small drought-ridden Kansas town, Jonas plans an impromptu revival to take the entire town for a ride in three short days.
The some-time reverend pitches a tent and invites the townspeople to his revival, however, a woman named Marla McGowan (Michaela Leisk), is determined to stop Jonas from taking the towns people's money.
Leap of Faith looks honestly at the fragility of our knowledge about life's big questions, and yet emphasises how the miraculous can make the doubter doubt his doubts - a fine topic for a musical!
The musical is relatable with real human flaws and emotions and with the combination of fantasy, inspiration and web of lies, Leap of Faith is a seamless performance that is loaded with the perfect balance of humour and heartfelt moments and each character is crafted differently.
There are two acts in the musical and in each act we were taken onto the journey of Jonas with each scene being performed by the different characters.
The cast Jonas Nightingale (Mateo Morchio), Sam Nightingale (Taggie Ennis), Marla McGowan (Michaela Leisk), Jake McGowan (Nile Sturzaker), Ida Mae (Rachael Gillfeather), Isaiah (Grant Loxton), Ornella (Carmel Rodrigues), Angel Zac (Lachlan Ceravolo), Angel Leon (Tim Martin), Angel Sheryl (Kate Reynolds), Angel Rosa (Rose Rodrigues), Angel Carla (Samira Zaarour) Townie, Farmer/Trouper (David Berry), Townie, Mother (Julia Brovedani), Townie, Susie Raylove (Cassandra Gorman), Townie, Emma Schlarp (Kate Mannix), and Townie, and Amanda Wayne (Claire Miller) all gave us such a stellar performance as well as executing each character with such perfection, which created a truly exciting and upbeat performance.
Leap of Faith was such a fun performance to watch and the use of interaction with the audience created the feeling of being part of the musical. It is a must see musical!
Review by Gypsy Rose
Image Courtesy from Alan Roy