Nunsense

PROMOTIONAL PHOTO
The Little Sisters of Hoboken (from the top) Kathleen Sheehy as Mother Superior, Naomi Emmerson as Sister Hubert, Anne-Marie Massicotte as Sister Robert Ann, Christina Gordon as Sister Amnesia and Siobhan Chin as Sister Leo, star in Nunsense, now playing in St. Jacobs.
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ST. JACOBS (Sep 19, 2003)

You certainly don't have to be Catholic to laugh out loud at Nunsense, now playing at the Church Theatre (that seems appropriate) in St. Jacobs.

Here's the plot -- pay close attention since there'll be a test after Sunday school.

The Little Sisters of Hoboken operate Mount Saint Helen's School in Hoboken, N. J. Originally founded as a missionary order, they started out running a leper colony on an island south of France.

Forced to leave the island when they lost control to a group of Protestant competitors, they returned to Hoboken. They went unnoticed until one day their cook, Sister Julia, Child of God, unwittingly served some tainted vichyssoise and 52 sisters were found face down in their soup.

Fortunately a few of the sisters were off playing bingo with some Dominican Maryknolls and so were spared. Upon discovering the disaster, Mother Superior had a vision -- it was either Saint Catherine of Siena or Saint Thomas Aquinas in drag (she's not sure) -- in which she was told to start a greeting card company to raise funds for the burial of the 52.

The greeting cards were an enormous success and thinking there was plenty of money, Reverend Mother bought a VCR for the convent. When she realized there was only enough money left to bury 48, she decided to stage a talent show to raise the money to bury the last four sisters, who were put on ice in the convent freezer.

But that's not the musical -- that all takes place before it begins, and the musical itself is the variety show that the "Little Hobos" put on, though they do ramble through an explanation of the above.

This is a hilarious show, not only because of the writing but because of the talents of the cast -- they are having a whale of a time and it spreads right into the audience.

Kathleen Sheehy is Reverend Mother, who tries to keep control of the sisters, but every now and then she herself slips and starts sniffing something that releases her inhibitions -- and watch out! Sheehy does a great job on Turn Up the Spotlight and in a couple of duets.

This is a musical variety show that also offers well developed characters, and we see their personalities not only through their songs but through the dialogue and interplay.

Sister Robert Anne, for example, boisterously played by Anne-Marie Massicotte, is next in rank to Mother Superior, but she's tired of Playing Second Fiddle, and eventually she's given a spot of her own and sings I Just Want to Be a Star. What a great job by Massicotte.

Sister Amnesia, (played by Christina Gordon) tells the audience what it's like to be a nun. To everyone's surprise, Sister Amnesia has brought her puppet, Sister "Mary Annette" to help out. This sequence and song, So You Want to Be a Nun, are highlights in a show that is full of highlights, with Gordon doing some great coloratura phrases and a fabulous job with the puppet. Later she does a twangy C & W bit when she recounts I Could Have Gone to Nashville.

They are all so good -- Siobhan Chin as Sister Leo singing Benedicite, Naomi Emmerson as Sister Hubert doing the big finish with Holier Than Thou, and the whole cast in various combinations, tapping when they Tackle Temptation with a Time Step, Sheehy's fan dance, Chin doing ballet en pointe, a trio called The Saint Andrews Sisters of Hoboken, a video spoof of The Sound of Music, Massicotte's clever impressions using her mantle, and sight and verbal gags galore.

Directed by Lisa Hagen, musical direction by Carol McFadden who was on stage at the piano and in a habit as Sister Karol.

Two hours of solid fun, good music and great entertainment.

hcurrie@therecord.com

NUNSENSE

Where: Church Theatre, St. Jacobs

Day: Through Sunday

Time: 8 p.m. tonight; 2 and 8 p.m. tomorrow; 3 p.m. Sunday

Cost: $25

Phone: 519-664-1134

Where: River Run Centre Guelph

Day: Oct. 8 to11

Time: 8 p.m. each night and 2 p.m. on Oct. 12

Cost: $60 (dinner show); $25, $23

students, seniors

Phone: 519-763-3000