Watching the musical comedy “Nunsense” is like indulging in a guilty pleasure. After all, should you be having so much fun at the expense of four dead nuns?
So say a couple of Hail Marys before you go, but buy tickets anyway for this Driftwood Players version of “Nunsense,” which promises to be hilarious, divinely entertaining and beautifully sung, said Doreen Duvall, who is co-producing the show with Dutch Heeterink.
“I think people should see this show no matter what is going on in your life right now because this will bring you a little piece of happiness,” said Duvall. “This show is about looking on the bright side. So even though they’ve got these dead sisters, it’s all positive.”
The plot of “Nunsense” follows the Little Sisters of Hoboken, what’s left of them anyway, after Sister Julia, Child of God, makes a tainted batch of vichyssoise soup and 52 sisters pass away.
The ones who decided to play bingo that night instead of eat soup are now left with the mess. They’ve buried 48 of their fallen but have run out of money. The four remaining dead sisters were put in the freezer.
To raise some dough to bury the ones getting freezer burn, the sisters decide to hold a fundraiser, a musical variety show. The sisters are praying they get the money in hand before the health inspector comes calling.
Of course, the sisters haven’t ever put on such a show before, so high jinks inevitably ensue.
Because this is really a show within a show, the audience gets to participate to a certain degree.
“It feels improv and the sisters break the fourth wall very nicely,” Duvall said.
Duvall added that each one of the sisters in the variety show “has a special note” they are bringing.
Mother Superior or Sister Mary Regina is the wisecracker. She is really enjoying her time here in the spotlight and at one point, enjoys herself a bit too much (but I won’t spoil that part for you.) Regina is played by Stacie Hart.
Sister Mary Hubert is second in command and we feel her pain about that. She is played by Erin Sprow.
Sister Robert Anne is streetwise from Brooklyn with a brash but likable toughness, played by Amanda Falcone.
Sister Mary Amnesia has indeed lost her memory and now is a sweet sort of goofball who the audience will like a lot, Duvall said. She is played by Kere Loughlin-Presnal.
Sister Mary Leo is the novice of the group and wants to be the first nun ballerina. The role is not played by a novice, however, but by Anne Arnhold, 16, who has performed in 37 shows with local and Seattle companies.
Duvall said the audience will also be pleased with the score, which features such toe-tapping numbers as “We’ve Got to Clean Out the Freezer” and “Turn Up the Spotlight.”
“Nunsense” is directed by Carissa Meisner Smit with musical direction by Michael Corey and choreography by Janet McNeil.
“It’s just a fun show,” Duvall said. “You will leave happy even though there are 52 dead nuns.”
“Nunsense” opens at 8 tonight at Driftwood Players’ Wade James Theatre, 950 Main St., Edmonds. Shows are 8 p.m. Thursday, Friday and Saturday and 2 p.m. Sunday through April 24.
Tickets are $23 and $20. Call 425-774-9600 or go to www.driftwoodplayers.com.
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