By Joel Applegate
The great thing about Nunsense at the Covey Center through May 23rd is the energy that all five women ably and convincingly deliver to delighted audiences. I and my playgoer friend walked out at the end of the performance on heavenly clouds of satisfaction. The direction by Robinne Boothe was concise and kept the action moving with nary a stodgy moment to be seen. And Joni Newman‘s choreography was really great; always interesting to watch with more than a few calculatedly goofy sight gags.
Our troop of Sisters has stars in their eyes and decidedly secular sensibilities. All take on multiple responsibilities, combining into five dynamic women. Nunsense is filled with eclectic fun tunes that know their way around a ragtime beat, a big band harmony, or a Broadway belt with a soupcon of soul and blues. I caught myself impulsively tapping my foot before I knew it.
Plain spoken, our Mother Superior Sister Regina, helmed by Robinne Boothe again, emcees the nun’s talent show telling the evening’s patrons that Mount Saint Helen’s Catholic school for girls is in need of some cash. It would spoil things to say why, but believe me when I say it’s hilarious. (Think frozen penguins.)
Boothe’s Mother Superior foreshadows sly, deliberate puns with her sardonic delivery – no forgiveness requested or needed. There’s wonderful rapport and chemistry between Booth and Rachel Orme as Sister Mary Hubert, her second in command and mistress of the novices.
Our novice is Sister “gotta dance” Leo, played by Joni Newman with sweet abandon fully embracing her silliness. In “The Way I Pray” Newman is a cute and energetic Sister who really has some classical ballet moves.
Michelle McManus as Sister Mary Amnesia was affecting and oddly vulnerable. She used her voice well, though her lovely soprano struggled a bit at the top as she appeared to be experiencing a slight throat ailment. We wish her all the best.
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I have to say I was most truly impressed by the chops of Skye Cummins as Sister Robert Anne, the street-wise former New Yorker. (Full disclosure: some bias may creep in here as my front row seat was perfectly placed to offer my lap – for a moment all too brief – to the dear Sister.) In her sparkly shoes, she showed her range as a soloist, in the ensemble and in the show’s one moving ballad. Wasted as an understudy, Sister Robert prevails upon Mother Superior to let her have the spotlight, and it was well earned.
The Covey’s set, designed by Dan James is the school gymnasium cleverly outfitted with set pieces and a basketball hoop, a Marilyn Monroe poster (with parts strategically covered) and a poster of Grease, the school musical. Tonight however, it’s a fundraiser for the school, introduced by Father Myopia – the archery instructor(!) – a nervous, nerdy monsignor played briefly by musical director Greg Duffin.
The show is a real treat, including some pretty impressive tap dancing, a dash of Vaudeville and lots of genuinely funny jokes sprinkled into the obvious, but perfectly forgivable, theatrical convention of five nuns who sing. On the whole, the production is golden; you might even earn some points in Heaven for going to see this holy romp.
Nunsense
Covey Center for the Arts – 425 W Center St, Provo, UT 84601 – Students, Seniors, Military: $12.00; Reserved: $14.00.
April 30 – May 23, Thurs, Fri and Sat at 7:30 pm – 801-852-7007 ~ www.coveycenter.org
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