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ENLARGE
Richard Packham
Even if you went to a Catholic school as a kid, you never knew any nuns like the Little Sisters of Hoboken. That’s a shame. But you can make up for it by attending their fun “fundraiser” onstage at UCC’s Centerstage Theatre, which opened Thursday evening. It’s that great madcap comedy musical “Nunsense,” and it’s laughs, gags, and hilarity from start to the “amen.”
That great team of Dean Remick as director and Dr. Jason Heald as music director, along with the talented choreographer Melody Mackintosh, have once again, as usual, put together a delightful show for Douglas county theatergoers. The plot line is pretty unbelievable, but who cares? Dead nuns in the freezer, lepers losing limbs, amnesia, sudden sweepstakes wins — one suspects that author Dan Goggin is wreaking revenge for his own experiences in Catholic school. But the songs, dance routines and raunchy jokes (yes, these nuns hold very little back!) make for nonstop fun.
The five talented women playing the sisters could not have been better cast. Each one brings something special to her role. All handled the challenges of the songs and dances with impressive skill. Cindy Pieske is Sister Mary Hubert, Corinne Campbell is Sister Robert Anne, Corinne Windish is Sister Mary Leo, Jere Bartley is the Mother Superior Sister Mary Regina and Myana Schulz is Sister Mary Amnesia.
Each nun had a couple of solo numbers, and they joined in several ensemble routines. All different, all delightful, all professional. Lots of soft-shoe dancing, can-can type chorus line bits, vaudeville-style routines. All “habit-forming.” Lots of puns, third-grade level jokes (“How do you make holy water?”).
Some memorable highlights: The Mother Superior accidentally gets high on some confiscated psychedelic drugs; Sister Amnesia does remember that she wanted to be a country western star; Sister Hubert gives instruction in how to become a saint (“I’m Holier Than Thou!”); Sister Robert Anne laments always having to be the understudy, never the star; Sister Leo does a take-off on The Flying Nun (“The Dying Nun” — remember they’ve got a freezer full of dead nuns, thanks to their botulism-producing cook). The review of the recipe book the sisters are going to sell, with recipes like pressed duck (you will need an ironing board) is worth the price of the ticket.
Lots of interaction with the audience. We’re there attending a fundraiser to raise the money to provide a decent burial for the dead nuns in the freezer, remember? Halfway through the show there is a quiz, with prizes for correct answers, so pay attention!
The instrumental support included Elona Wong on piano, playing some terrific ragtime and never taking her hands off the keyboard. Director Heald gave us some terrific banjo plucking, alternating with guitar. And Thomas Krokoski provided the bass. That’s all, and it was just right.
No profound moral or deep questions in this show. Just delightful, mindless fun. Maybe that’s what we need in these times — something to take our minds off the serious problems in the world and in our own lives. This show will do it. And you can bring the kids — the few slightly off-color lines will probably pass right by them. Even I had to pay close attention to get all the funny allusions (and I probably missed some of them).
So be sure to see this fun show. It would be a sin to miss it!
That great team of Dean Remick as director and Dr. Jason Heald as music director, along with the talented choreographer Melody Mackintosh, have once again, as usual, put together a delightful show for Douglas county theatergoers. The plot line is pretty unbelievable, but who cares? Dead nuns in the freezer, lepers losing limbs, amnesia, sudden sweepstakes wins — one suspects that author Dan Goggin is wreaking revenge for his own experiences in Catholic school. But the songs, dance routines and raunchy jokes (yes, these nuns hold very little back!) make for nonstop fun.
The five talented women playing the sisters could not have been better cast. Each one brings something special to her role. All handled the challenges of the songs and dances with impressive skill. Cindy Pieske is Sister Mary Hubert, Corinne Campbell is Sister Robert Anne, Corinne Windish is Sister Mary Leo, Jere Bartley is the Mother Superior Sister Mary Regina and Myana Schulz is Sister Mary Amnesia.
Each nun had a couple of solo numbers, and they joined in several ensemble routines. All different, all delightful, all professional. Lots of soft-shoe dancing, can-can type chorus line bits, vaudeville-style routines. All “habit-forming.” Lots of puns, third-grade level jokes (“How do you make holy water?”).
Some memorable highlights: The Mother Superior accidentally gets high on some confiscated psychedelic drugs; Sister Amnesia does remember that she wanted to be a country western star; Sister Hubert gives instruction in how to become a saint (“I’m Holier Than Thou!”); Sister Robert Anne laments always having to be the understudy, never the star; Sister Leo does a take-off on The Flying Nun (“The Dying Nun” — remember they’ve got a freezer full of dead nuns, thanks to their botulism-producing cook). The review of the recipe book the sisters are going to sell, with recipes like pressed duck (you will need an ironing board) is worth the price of the ticket.
Lots of interaction with the audience. We’re there attending a fundraiser to raise the money to provide a decent burial for the dead nuns in the freezer, remember? Halfway through the show there is a quiz, with prizes for correct answers, so pay attention!
The instrumental support included Elona Wong on piano, playing some terrific ragtime and never taking her hands off the keyboard. Director Heald gave us some terrific banjo plucking, alternating with guitar. And Thomas Krokoski provided the bass. That’s all, and it was just right.
No profound moral or deep questions in this show. Just delightful, mindless fun. Maybe that’s what we need in these times — something to take our minds off the serious problems in the world and in our own lives. This show will do it. And you can bring the kids — the few slightly off-color lines will probably pass right by them. Even I had to pay close attention to get all the funny allusions (and I probably missed some of them).
So be sure to see this fun show. It would be a sin to miss it!
If you go ...
WHAT: “Nunsense,” a musical comedy with book, music and lyrics written by Dan Goggin. Directed by Dean Remick.
WHERE: Umpqua Community College’s Centerstage Theatre, 1140 College Road, Winchester. WHEN: 7:30 p.m. tonight, Saturday, May 21, 22, 23 and 2 p.m. Sunday and May 24. COST: Tickets are $10 and are available at Hanson Jewelers, While Away Books, Books Gallery in Sutherlin and at the door when available. INFORMATION: 440-7726 |
Richard Packham of Dixonville is a retired college professor long active in local community theater who writes theater reviews for The News-Review.
