The nuns are on the run again. Dan Goggin’s cottage industry of Nunsense musicals had its start modestly off-Broadway in 1985 when yours’s truly was an early fan. I have fond memories of that plucky little show about five nuns putting on a talent show in order to raise money. The fundraiser is to assist in the burial of their fellow sisters who passed en masse after some bad soup at the convent. You read that right. Anyway, the original Nunsense, which I haven’t seen in years, is now on the Legacy Theatre’s cozy stage, an ideal venue for this small scale musical.
Since 1985 there have been numerous iterations of Nunsense, including the 8th chapter, Nunset Boulevard, which I caught at the Bridgeport Downtown Cabaret several years ago. Dan Goggin, who wrote the book, music and lyrics, is nothing if not industrious, clinging strongly to the adage of “if-it-ain’t-broke-don’t-fix-it”. Each new sequel, however, seemed to deliver diminishing returns. That’s why I was happy to attend the Legacy production to see if my memories from 1985 were accurate. My answer was mixed, but I still had a good time watching this revival, especially since Semina De Laurentis, who originated the role of Sister Mary Amnesia all those years ago, has returned to the role at Legacy. De Laurentis, who created and ran Waterbury’s Seven Angels Theatre for years until her recent retirement, looks like she’s having a ball playing the part that put her on the map.
Nunsense is still musical theatre comfort food, and the quintet of giddy nuns assembled at Legacy have enough charm to keep a smile on your face even as the musical occasionally shows its age. A bit featuring Reverend Mother getting high on Rush (which no one in my audience seemed to recall) doesn’t really work, nor does the general audience participation sections which go on too long as well as some jokes being well beyond their shelf life. The script has been slightly updated with references to a flat screen TV, Taylor Swift and “Naked and Afraid”, but most of it remains how I remember it from 1985.
The cast is good enough, especially in the group numbers, and in addition to De Laurentis includes Keisha T. Fraser, Melissa Goldberg, Jennifer Smith and Sarah Vieira. The harmony is strong throughout and both Fraser and Smith have some potent solo numbers, especially Fraser who concludes the fun with a roof-raising “Holier Than Thou”. Goldberg comes off rather shrill in her solos, but she impresses with some lovely ballet moves, occasionally dancing en pointe. De Laurentis, after over 40 years, still has the comic chops and voice to play her role effectively. What bothered me, however, is that her Amnesia is now older and jokes at her expense now seem cruel. This was not the case when she was a ditsy younger character.
The Catholic school auditorium setting and lighting by Jamie Burnett has plenty of personality, although director/choreographer James Gray allows far too many blackouts after numbers, often stopping the show in its tracks. Nunsense is still going to be a popular selection for Legacy, though, and patrons (especially you Catholics out there – lapsed or otherwise) are guaranteed a fun evening.
Nunsense continues at the Legacy Theatre, 128 Thimble Island Road in Branford, Connecticut through May 17. For further information and ticket reservations call the theatre box office at 203.3151901 or visit: www.legacytheatrect.org.
Tom Holehan is one of the founders of the Connecticut Critics Circle, a frequent contributor to WPKN Radio’s “State of the Arts” program and the Stratford Crier and former Artistic Director of Stratford’s Square One Theatre Company. He welcomes comments at: tholehan@yahoo.com. His reviews and other theatre information can be found on the Connecticut Critics Circle website: www.ctcritics.org.
