FORGIVE AMUSING `SISTER ACT' ITS MINOR TRESPASSES.

Byline: Evan Henerson Theater Critic

Good old-fashioned show stoppers are, it turns out, not a thing of the past after all.

Contained within ``Sister Act, the Musical'' is a song so outrageous, so loopily transcendent, it's a wonder composer Alan Menken and lyricist Glenn Slater couldn't find a way to reprise it later on.

``Lady in the Long Black Dress'' is sung by actors Melvin Abston, Danny Stiles and Dan Domenech, who are playing a trio of inept heavies. They are singing about -- would I kid about a thing like this? -- the best way to seduce a nun, and on opening night of this hopeful, but not-quite-there musical, the Pasadena Playhouse audience nearly tore the roof off. In a good way.

Dressed to impress

``Lady in the Long Black Dress'' takes place two songs into the second act. Prior to that point (and, alas, subsequently as well), ``Sister Act'' is good without being great. You can enjoy, appreciate, note the talent, the good intentions and certainly the money that has gone into this endeavor without being swept away. ``Take Me to Heaven'' is another of ``Sister Act's'' signature numbers. Would that this musical could do so.

The 1992 film -- on which ``Sister Act'' is based -- featured Whoopi Goldberg as a Vegas lounge singer hiding out in a convent after witnessing her mobster boyfriend whack a goombah, and transforming the church choir into a rocking ensemble.

Fun stuff this was, aided in large part by Goldberg, who, once upon a time, did fish-out-of-water hilarity better than anybody.

The stakes feel simultaneously lowered and raised in ``SATM.'' Writers Cheri and Bill Steinkellner have set the action in the 1970s, allowing for disco rhythms and some very out- there outfits. Deloris Van Cartier's boyfriend is a badly dressed pimp (played by Harrison White). There's a half-baked attraction going on between Deloris and the police officer protecting her, and the Steinkellners have tossed in more than a few crises of faith.

This may constitute an overseasoning of the stew. ``Sister Act'' seems to have a bit too much going on, none of it terrifically important or outrageous enough to merit heavy burlesque. (``The Lady in the Long Black Dress'' is, of course, the shining exception.)

Oh, it's still every bit a comedy, with the authors and director Peter Schneider proceeding on the rather odd assumption (a la ``Nunsense'' and ``Nuncrackers'') that nuns are funny. Like when they're over-the-top perky like tubby Sister Mary Patrick (played by Amy K. Murray). Or in rap mode, like Sister Mary Lazarus (Audrie Neenan).

Appropriate behavior

This is not to suggest that ``Sister Act'' is skirting a line of tastelessness or offensiveness. It really isn't. Deloris (Dawnn Lewis) may grumble a bit over being stuck in a men-and-booze-free situation, but her barbs are mild, and she'll get into the swing of things.

Lewis doesn't bring the superstar charge that the role might inspire any more than Goldberg did. But she's inarguably charismatic and a solid singer. Her showcase number is an early track titled ``Fabulous, Baby!''

About those songs: They're terrific. Menken laces his ballads and standard musical-theater fare with plenty of funk, and Slater is a crackerjack musical wordsmith.

Evan Henerson, [phone]

evan.henerson(at)dailynews.com

SISTER ACT, THE MUSICAL - Three stars

Where: Pasadena Playhouse, 39 S. El Molino Ave., Pasadena.

When: 8 p.m. Tuesday through Friday, 5 and 9 p.m. Saturday, 2 and 7 p.m. Sunday; through Dec. 17.

Tickets: $40 to $100. [phone] or visit www.pasadenaplayhouse.org.

In a nutshell: The screen to stage mill kicks out another entry. Fun, not fabulous.

CAPTION(S):

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Photo:

Dawnn Lewis, third from left, is Deloris Van Cartier, who hides out as a nun, in ``Sister Act.''