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| SINGING SISTERS: The delightful cast of the 25th anniversary revival of 'Nunsense'. Photo: Cherry Lane Theatre |
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Theater
Review
25th anniversary revival of Nunsense: still a habit-forming delight
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By Scott Harrah
Dan Goggin’s Off-Broadway standard, Nunsense, is back for its 25th anniversary revival at the venue where it all began in 1985: The Cherry Lane Theatre.
The story about the Little Sisters of Hoboken, who stage a fundraiser and show off their singing, dancing, comic and storytelling talents, has played throughout the nation and the world. Nunsense was written in more innocent times, long before the intense media coverage scrutinizing the Catholic Church. It celebrates and sends up Catholicism in a lighthearted way.
More of a revue with clever jokes than a musical, Nunsense contains great performances from Bonnie Lee as the imperious Reverend Mother Mary Regina; Bambi Jones as Sister Mary Hubert, the “Mistress of the Novices;” Maria Montana as Sister Robert Anne; Jeanne M. Tinker as Sister Mary Amnesia (she was hit over the head by a crucifix); and Stephanie Wahl as Sister Mary Leo.
Various types of nuns are exquisitely portrayed here: the joking nun, a streetwise nun from Brooklyn, the ballerina wannabe nun, the ditzy but lovable nun, etc.
Whether you’re Catholic or not doesn’t matter. The purpose of Nunsense is to make us laugh, and it succeeds brilliantly. It makes no profound statement, and never tried to be groundbreaking. A quarter of a century after it originally premiered, Nunsense remains a feel-good show that will likely continue to entertain audiences for years to come.
Published on June 21, 2010
Reviewed at Press Preview Performance on June 19, 2010
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