CT Review: "Nunsense" at Playhouse on Park
Tim Leininger, Contributing Critic - Connecticut
Playhouse on Park kicked off their 11th season last week with a riotously hysterical production of the absolutely absurd musical comedy “Nunsense,” running through Oct. 13.
The immensely popular show created by Dan Goggin has been a long-standing hit for regional theaters around the country, especially for those relatively populated with Catholics and has five sequels.
The story follows five nuns of the Little Sisters of Hoboken. 52 of their members recently died from a tainted batch of vichyssoise soup cooked by Sister Julia, Child of God – be prepared for a blessing of jokes similar to that to rain down upon you for two hours.
After Reverend Mother Sister Mary Regina (Amanda Forker) decides to use a portion of the money to pay for the funeral costs on a 3D HD plasma flatscreen television – it used to be a VCR and camcorder when the show was originally written in 1985 – the sisters do not have enough money to bury four of the deceased nuns and are stored in a freezer until they can raise additional funds.
To make such a tragically absurd comedy enjoyable, “Nunsense” requires a cast that is able to throw away all discretion and fully embrace the ridiculousness of it all and none of the ladies at Playhouse on Park disappoint.
My favorite of the five is probably Hillary Ekwall who plays Sister Mary Amnesia, a sensible title for a nun who doesn’t remember who she is because she was knocked on the head by a crucifix.
Ekwall’s performance as Amnesia is so sweet and sincere a Boston Cream donut would feel ashamed for not being as sweet.
The other sisters all bear a variety of other characterizations that give “Nunsense” the flavor the show needs to keep it from being too one-note the entire time.
Brandi Porter fantastic as the mentoring Sister Mary Hubert. Her powerhouse voice belts out the hysterically ironic 11 o’clock number “Holier Than Thou” bringing the whole audience to church for about four minutes.
Lily Dickinson is great as the underappreciated Sister Robert Anne who is begging for an opportunity to have a spotlight number. Her “I Just Want To Be A Star” has more than a few and less than subtle nods to such classic divas as Barbra Streisand and Bette Midler.
Rachel Oremland, much like Ekwall, is endearing as the Novice Sister Mary Leo who aspires to be the first nun ballerina – nunbalina?
Forker has probably the most difficult role as Reverend Mother Regina. She successfully maintains cantankerousness about her while not becoming too overbearing to the point of being dislikable. Regina is a character that is trying to put on her best face while maintaining order in a fundraiser event that feels rather thrown together at the last minute and Forker pulls it all together excellently.
She does have one moment that does run a little too long near the end of the first act when Forker inadvertently starts sniffing a bottle full of something that ends up getting her high. The gag is funny, but gets a little exhaustive for the end of the first act.
That little error falls more on the director Darlene Zoller, but aside from that moment, Zoller lets her cast shine especially with the improvisational moments constructed within the script. She has done a great job of letting her cast of five audacious and witty ladies of the habit banter with the audience and improvise at appropriate points.
Zoller, who also choreographs the show, uses the seemingly inappropriate props from Playhouse on Park’s annual risqué Mama D show for the nuns to utilize. Of course, why not? It doesn’t entirely make sense why the Mama D show would be staged at the Mount St. Helens School auditorium, but it makes the absurdity of the whole show all the more hysterical.
Nunsense
Theater: Playhouse on Park
Location: 244 Park Road, West Hartford
Production: Book, Music, and Lyrics by Dan Goggin; Directed and Choreographed by Darlene Zoller; Music Direction by Melanie Guerin; Scenic Design by Johann Fitzpatrick; Sound Design by Joel Abbott; Lighting Design by Shane Cassidy; Costume Design by Lisa Ann Steier; Stage Manager: Mollie Cook; Props Artisan and Set Dresser: Eileen O’Connor
Show times: Evening: Wednesday and Thursday 7:30 p.m., Friday and Saturday 8 p.m. Matinee: Tuesday, Saturday, and Sunday 2 p.m.
Tickets: $37.50 to $50. Available online at www.playhouseonpark.org, by phone at 860-523-5900 ext. 10, or at the box office.