So Much “Nunsense”: The Musical

With no more than 135 seats in this cozy, intimate venue, Nextdoor Theater presented "Nunsense", an interactive play about five nuns who are a few of the remaining survivors from a cooking mishap that tragically killed 52 of their Little Sisters of Hoboken. 

After the unfortunate accident by the wittingly named convent's chef, Sister Julia, Child of God, the five nuns bury all but four of the recently deceased sisters, due to lack of funds. Hilarity ensues when the sisters, including one vivacious Reverend Mother, played by Shana Dirik, attempt to figure out ways to raise money to send their final four sisters from the freezer, where they were storing the bodies, to the grave.

Sounds of church music, reminiscent of any Sunday morning mass, softly plays as the crowd ushers into the theater. 

But don't let the organ tunes fool you. 

The music and lyrics in Nunsense were catchy and clever, with each song giving insight into the lives of each sister and life in a convent. 

Through stellar vocal performances, we find out that Nunsense is "habit forming" and that the sisters are, "On our way to heaven, but we're here to raise some hell."  One of the songs in the first act, "Turn Up the Spotlight", a smashing solo by Reverend Mother, has her suggestively dance around with a red boa, telling the audience despite her vow of modesty, she can't resist being in the spotlight and wanting fame. 

Other songs, such as, "So You Want to be a Nun" select the pros and cons of the sisterhood through a slightly manic performance by Sister Mary Amnesia, played by Sarajane "Sayjay" Morse Mullins, the sister who is unable to remember her true identity, and her jaded, crotchety nun hand puppet. Together, they juxtapose the honor and selfless acts of being a nun with the less-than-glamorous components of the lifestyle.    

Although most plays take place within the confines of the main stage, the actors in Nunsense moved about the audience, interacting with patrons throughout the show.  Just before the opening number, the nuns wander through the seats, saying hello to members of the audience, making small talk, and cracking jokes with individuals.  Yet their interaction did not stop with their introductory mingle. Much of the play features monologues directed toward the audience, including a pop quiz about the formation of the Little Sisters of Hoboken, by Sister Mary Amnesia.

One of the highlights of the show is toward the end of the first act when Sister Robert Anne brings an unidentified bottle to Reverend Mother, stating that one of the students in the day school had left it in the locker room. 

Without knowing its contents, Reverend Mother sniffs the bottle and soon becomes intoxicated with its potency. Standing alone on stage, she is left to amuse herself, and the audience, using the stages' props to impersonate movies, as she falls to the floor and yells: "FREE WILLY!  FREE WILLY!"  Funniest of all, Reverend Mother mimics a pregnant Virgin Mary, using nothing but her habit with a barstool wedged underneath.    

With its quirky characters and dynamic solos, duos, and group performances, there is absolutely nothing "Nunsensical" about this comedic play.