Theater Review: ‘Nunsense' leaves audience in stitches

By Janet Taylor - 09/18/2008

If anyone left the Mother Lode Theatre on Tuesday evening without a big grin, they are probably in serious need of a long vacation.

"Nunsense" debuted its national tour before a packed house at the theater and is one of the six shows offered through the 2008-2009 Mother Lode's "From Broadway to Butte" performance series.

"Nunsense" is about the Little Sisters of Hoboken who discover that their cook, Sister Julie, has accidentally poisoned 52 of the sisters and they need cash for their burials. The sisters decide to raise money by putting on a variety show.

Sally Struthers — known for her role as Gloria in the long-playing TV sitcom "All in the Family" — stars in this touring production as the Reverend Mother. She joins an amazing, talented cast of six other women who played nuns.

The slapstick comedy left the audience howling as the nuns poked fun at themselves with the kind of humor that a good Catholic (and even a good Lutheran) can appreciate. And, the upbeat music performed by beautiful female voices in perfect harmony was beyond a good treat. Their voices blended together in songs that ranged from the 1940's style of war time music to country and a little gospel.

Tuesday's "Nunsense" production was the first for the tour. Although Struthers seemed a little "off" and nervous with this first show, she did a stellar job on a scene where she accidentally gets pretty high off something that was found in one of the student's lockers. The rest of the cast members performed as though they had been doing the show for years.

If "Nunsense" is any indication of the caliber of shows we can expect to enjoy from this year's Broadway series at the Mother Lode, then attending the rest of the performances will be well worth the time and money.

— Janet Taylor is the publisher of The Montana Standard.

For more info For information on the "From Broadway to Butte' performance series, visit the Mother Lode Theatre at 316 W. Park St.; call 723-3602; or visit http://www.buttearts.org/