By Kimberly Harper
They say you can’t go home again, but if you’ve ever attended Catholic school, served at an altar or just attended Mass on any kind of regular basis, the goofy fun that is “Nunsense 2” at The Community Players will leave you happily nostalgic.
Written by Dan Goggin and directed by Bill Whitehead Jr., “Nunsense 2: The Second Coming” takes place in the Mount Saint Helen’s School Auditorium. Five nuns are putting on a “thank you” show for those who attended “last year’s” production and you as the audience are along for the ride. Don’t think of this as passive theater, the Sisters are going to insist you clap, react and, in Act 2, sing along. There’s even a Bingo game at one point – well, sort of.
If you don’t know the first “Nunsense” you won’t be left in the dark – there are enough references to the first play that following the plot isn’t difficult. And what a plot – the Rev. Mother (Cathy Fox) is trying to keep order and raise money for the convent while Sr. Mary Hubert (Karen Gail Kessler) vies for control. She’s second in command and, it would appear, the real brains of the operation. Sr. Robert Anne (Maria Day) is the “problem child” of the nuns, Sr. Mary Paul, aka Amnesia (there’s a bit of an accident with a crucifix that happens prior to the events), played by Jeanne Sullivan Evans, is a sweet, if addlepated addition to things. She loves her fellow Sisters, but came to them under some curious circumstances. It turns out she may have been from the Franciscan order and the Franciscans are determined to get her – and some associated money – back into the fold. Then there’s Sr. Mary Leo (Donna Gorham) who still wants to pursue her dream of being a prima ballerina, though the Rev. Mother opposes tutus, much to Sr. Leo’s dismay. Never fear, she always has her trusty roller skates.
Sound ridiculous? It is. It’s also well done, with five talented ladies at the helm. Fox especially has a wonderfully powerful voice that sounds good in her solo numbers, including a fun one that details her prior life as a circus performer. There are puns – some that will make you laugh, some that will make you groan, musical numbers, dance, and, just to round things out, a set that looks straight out of The Mikado – which makes sense, as that’s the next show that Mount Saint Helen’s will be putting on after this purported variety show.
To describe much more of the plot would be to give away many of the funny jokes and moments, but it’s wonderfully farcical, and the nuns have fun, both with each other and the audience.
“I haven’t seen you in awhile,” Fox says to one audience member. “You know the Mass is in English now?”
“You can never trust people who spend that much time with animals,” she grumbles later, a jab at the Franciscans who seem intent on reclaiming Sr. Amnesia.
The jokes have been updated for a present day audience – there are references to America’s Got Talent, one of the nuns has an iPhone, and the Pope is from Argentina. The songs are goofy but will make you smile. And there’s one number that features an extensive song/argument with a hand puppet that’s so over the top you can’t help but crack up. Music Director Ron Procopio heads up a five member orchestra who sound great – it’s always a treat to have live music at the community theater level and this is no exception.
In short, if you are looking to laugh, play a little Bingo an take nothing seriously for a couple of hours, “Nunsense 2: The Second Coming” is the absurd escape from reality you need.
“Nunsense 2: The Second Coming” runs through April 24 with Friday and Saturday performances at 8 p.m. and Sunday matinees at 2 p.m. Tickets are $25 for general admission and $18 for students with a valid ID. Purchase them at http://www.thecommunityplayers.net/ or call the reservation line at (401) 726-6860. Tickets are also available at the door, and credit cards are accepted.
