By KEN KLINGENMEIER
A Seat on the Aisle
Actors Theatre of Indiana (ATI) has opened its 2022-23 season with Dan Goggin’s Nunsense. This show opened off-Broadway in 1985, having 3,672 performances during its 10-year run. Ultimately, the original show sprouted six sequels and is a perennial favorite for theatre companies around the world.
Karen Sheridan directs the ATI effort, with musical direction by Jay Schwandt and choreography by Anne Beck. The very talented cast features Suzanne Stark as Reverend Mother Sister Mary Regina, Illeana Kirven as Sister Mary Hubert, Katelyn Lauria as Sister Robert Ann, Stephanie Wahl as Sister Mary Amnesia, and Rachel Weinfeld as novice Sister Mary Leo.
The entire show is ripe with a crazy array of jokes, bits, dances and songs – made all the more unlikely fun as they are presented by a corps of habit-wearing nuns with big personalities. And “fun,” I believe, is the theme of the show.
The action, set in the Mount St. Helen school gymnasium, is carried along by a rather complicated plot premise as the sisters are presenting a fundraising variety show so that they may have the money to bury four recently departed sisters – the aftermath of a batch of tainted vichyssoise prepared by the convent cook Sister Julia which felled 52 convent members, 48 of which have already been interred.
Each of the performers has a featured turn in the spotlight along with tightly harmonized ensemble renditions. Highlights include Ms. Starks’ truly brilliant scene as the Reverend Mother discovers the power of an inhaled intoxicant, Ms. Wahl’s Sister Amnesia and her puppet (Sister Mary Annette), Ms. Weinfeld’s ballet-dancing Sister Leo, Ms. Lauria’s break-out “I Just Want to be a Star” as Sister Robert Anne, and Ms. Kirven’s rousing “Holier Than Thou” by Sister Hubert.
Director Sheridan has instilled the fast-moving pace necessary here, while Choreographer Beck keeps the movements simple and sharp. The music provided by the band of three “priests” with piano, bass and drums, although at times a bit loud for the singers to be understood, was notably proficient.
Bottom line: The opening night audience had a lot to laugh about as the five cast members did a fabulous job with this zany material. The standing ovation they received was well deserved! Make a big effort to see this one!
Nunsense continues at ATI’s Studio Theatre in the Center for the Performing Arts in Carmel through Sept. 25. You can get information about the schedule and tickets by calling (317) 843-3800 or by logging on at atistage.org.