Nunsense (1993)
by Dan Goggin
Directed by Helen Chadney
Performances: Thurs 28th – Sat 30th October 1993, Prompt Corner
Contents
Introduction
The Nunsense concept originated as a line of greeting cards featuring a nun offering tart quips with a clerical slant. The cards caught on so quickly that Goggin decided to expand the concept into a cabaret show called The Nunsense Story, which opened for a four-day run at Manhattan's Duplex and remained for 38 weeks, encouraging its creator to expand it into a full-length theater production.
Five of the 19 surviving Little Sisters of Hoboken, a one-time missionary order that ran a leper colony on an island south of France, discover that their cook, Sister Julia, Child of God, accidentally killed the other fifty-two residents of the convent with her tainted vichyssoise while they were off playing bingo with a group of Maryknolls. Upon discovering the disaster, Mother Superior had a vision in which she was told to start a greeting card company to raise funds for the burials. The greeting cards were an enormous success and, thinking there was plenty of money, the Reverend Mother bought a VCR and camcorder for the convent, leaving her with no money in the kitty to pay for the last four burials. With the deceased nuns on ice in the deep freeze, they decide to stage a variety show in the Mount Saint Helen's School auditorium to raise the necessary amount. Participating in the project are Mother Superior Mary Regina, a former circus performer who can not resist the spotlight; her competitive but dignified rival, second-in-command Sister Mary Hubert; Sister Robert Anne, a streetwise nun from Brooklyn; Sister Mary Leo, a novice who is determined to be the world's first ballerina nun; and wacky, childlike Sister Mary Amnesia, who lost her memory when a crucifix fell on her head. The entertainment that they present includes solo star turns, madcap dance routines, and an audience quiz.
Naturally, VCRs and camcorders are now no longer such current or expensive devices, so modern presentations of the show tend to substitute newer or more generic terms such as "home entertainment system" or a "plasma TV"<ref>http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nunsense</ref>
Cast
- Sister Mary Regina - Karen Nott
- Sister Mary Hubert - Fiona Moir
- Sister Robert Anne - Alison Pittman
- Sister Mary Amnesia - Yvonne Amos
- Sister Mary Leo - Jenni Dominguez
Crew
- Musical Director - Andrew Chadney
- Lighting design and operation - Keefe Browning
- Stage Manager - Anji Gibson
- Assistant Stage Manager - John Scahill
- Choreography - Helen Chadney
- Follow-spot Operator - Sarah Walters
- Costumes & Props - Geraldine Garner
- Prompt - Lucy Shippey
Reviews
Some review quotes go here
Gallery
Not photographs of the show, but taken to be projected in the show.
- Photos by Brian Fretwell
Sister Mary Regina - Karen Nott
Sister Mary Regina - Karen Nott
Sister Mary Amnesia - Yvonne Amos, Sister Mary Leo - Jenni Dominguez & Sister Robert Anne - Alison Pittman
Sister Mary Amnesia - Yvonne Amos & Sister Robert Anne - Alison Pittman
Sister Mary Amnesia - Yvonne Amos, Sister Mary Leo - Jenni Dominguez & Sister Robert Anne - Alison Pittman
Sister Mary Amnesia - Yvonne Amos, Sister Mary Leo - Jenni Dominguez & Sister Robert Anne - Alison Pittman
Sister Mary Leo - Jenni Dominguez & Sister Robert Anne - Alison Pittman
Sister Mary Amnesia - Yvonne Amos, Sister Mary Leo - Jenni Dominguez & Sister Robert Anne - Alison Pittman
Reminiscences and Anecdotes
Members are encouraged to write about their experiences of working on or seeing this production. Please leave your name. Anonymous entries may be deleted.
