‘Nunsense’: Superb example of Last Leaf Production’s mission
Published 3:34 pm Friday, November 20, 2009
Last Leaf Production’s irreverent “Nunsense” is a musical show that will make you laugh till you cry and put you in such a spasm that you might find yourself praying for them to stop.
This sinfully funny dinner theater show is the kind of thing you’d expect from a first-rate national touring company: a host of vaudeville-inspired songs, ribald but not raunchy humor, classically trained singers with spot-on comic timing and — c’mon! — nuns doing a tap dance. Need I say more?
Well, actually, one more thing: a nun ventriloquist act complete with a puppet nun. Can I get an “Amen”?
But this is no national touring company. Last Leaf Productions is a nonprofit theatrical touring company based in Monroe. In its 10th season, Last Leaf is continuing its mission to perform original, entertaining and educational programs to all-ages audiences, and provide affordable and live theater to communities that have limited access to traditional theaters.
Though there’s just one more weekend left to see “Nunsense” in Monroe, Last Leaf is firming up negotiations to take the show to the Byrnes Performing Arts Center in Arlington for a matinee performance tentatively scheduled for Jan. 16, Last Leaf board president Patricia Haines-Ainsworth said.
“Last Leaf is living up to its mission as a touring company, plus this show is so much fun we wanted to try and have one more fling before we totally closed,” Haines-Ainsworth said.
The Little Sisters of Hoboken in “Nunsense” certainly take the audience on a fast-paced fling that is staged as a talent show in which the sisters try to raise enough money to bury four nuns on ice in a freezer. It seems that the cook made a tainted batch of vichyssoise soup and 52 other sisters died. The convent buried all but the four, then ran out of money.
Dee Smith was unholy funny as the Reverend Mother. Her soliloquy after inhaling some Ecstasy — by mistake, sort of — brought on spasms of laughter.
L. Sam Samano’s impressions, Brooklyn accent and set of lungs combined for a heavenly performance as Sister Robert Anne.
Erica Row, boasting a well-trained singing voice, played the goofy and adorable Sister Mary Amnesia.
Haines-Ainsworth played a solidly sarcastic Sister Hubert, the head of postulants and No. 2 to the Reverend Mother.
Perfectly cast as the dancing Sister Mary Leo, the postulant of the group, was high school freshman Rebekah Elles.
“Nunsense” was performed during the seamless delivery of a five-course meal by the Basil &Chives staff (though dress warmly because the ample dining room is quite cold.)
Last Leaf’s lineup into next year includes comedies, children’s programs, dinner theater shows and murder mysteries.
Those children’s productions include “The Search for Bigfoot,” an original show geared for ages 5 to 13, which uses an engaging and interactive approach to cover topics such as the wise use of natural resources and recycling. This 45-minute program is scheduled to be performed Tuesday at Sky Valley Education Center in Monroe.
In December, Last Leaf will present “The Shakespearean Murder Mystery or Someone was Rotten at Dinner” at Basil and Chives in Monroe and at the Pacific Rim Supper Club in Marysville.
Theresa Goffredo: 425-339-3424; goffredo@heraldnet.com.
“Nunsense”
7:30 tonight and Saturday at Basil &Chives, 114 N. Lewis St., Monroe. Tickets include a five-course meal and show for $40 or show only tickets for $12. Call 360-794-4000 or go to www.basilandchivesrestaurant.com.
