"A hail of fun and frolic! Wacky and outrageous with a hysterical anything goes sense of fun!" N.Y. Times.
"You don't have to be Catholic to love Nunsense!" Entertainment Tonight. "Inspired madness! Go see it!" Jewish Post and Opinion.
"Guaranteed to lift your spirits.... Very, very funny." National Catholic News.
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Wikipedia article on Nunsense
Nunsense is a musical comedy with a book, music, and lyrics by Dan Goggin.
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.
The original production of Nunsense, directed by Goggin, opened on December 12, 1985 at the off-Broadway Cherry Lane Theatre, where it ran for 3,672 performances, becoming the second-longest running off-Broadway show in history (after The Fantasticks). By the time it closed, it had become an international phenomenon translated into at least 26 languages with more than 6,000 productions worldwide.[1] It has grossed over $300 million worldwide,[2] and more than 25,000 women have played in Nunsense productions worldwide, including Edie Adams, Maxine Audley, Kaye Ballard, Honor Blackman, Pat Carroll, Peggy Cass, Phyllis Diller, Louise Gold, Maggie Fitzhugh and JoAnne Worley.[3]
More about Nunsense
Cherry Lane Theatre, Off-Broadway - 12 December, 1985
Fortune Theatre, London - 23 March, 1987
Winner of the Outer Critics' Circle awards for the best off Broadway musical and for the best book and best music and seen at London's Fortune Theatre in 1987. Nunsense is a hilarious talent show staged by five survivors at the Little Sisters of Hoboken nunnery, the rest of the sisterhood having succumbed to botulism after eating vichyssoise prepared by Sister Julia, Child of God. The remaining "Little Hobos" parade their talents at a variety show staged to raise funds so that the last four of the dearly departed can be buried. The score pulses with merriment and an unabashed desire to make you laugh, with songs and spontaneous comic interludes paced at break-neck speed. Amid the merriment is a riotous audience participation quiz that has everyone rolling in the aisles, Nunsense offers a cornucopia of hilarity for the whole family, proving conclusively that nun rhymes with fun!
Synopsis
The Little Sisters of Hoboken operate Mount Saint Helen's School in Hoboken, NewJersey. Originally founded as a missionary order, they started out running a leper colony on an island south of France. Forced to leave the island when they lost control to a group of Protestant competitors, they returned to Hoboken. They went unnoticed until one day their cook, Sister Julia — Child of God, unwittingly served some tainted vichysoisse soup and 52 sisters died of botulism. Fortunately a few of the sisters were off playing bingo with some Maryknolls and so were spared.
Upon discovering the disaster, Mother Superior had a vision — it was either Saint Catherine of Sienna or Saint Thomas Aquinas in drag (she's not sure) — in which she was told to start a greeting card company to raise funds for the burials of the 52. The greeting cards were an enormous success and thinking there was plenty of money, Reverend Mother bought a VCR for the convent. When she realised there was only enough money left to bury 48, she decided to stage a talent show to raise the money to bury the last four sisters who were put on ice in the convent deep freeze. The show reflects the events of that evening of Nunsense.
The program begins with a prayer and an opening song, followed by a brief history describing their difficult transition from the leper colony to Hoboken. Sister Mary Leo then describes a typical morning at the convent after which she is admonished by Sister Mary Hubert, the Mistress of Novices, to be humble. Reverend Mother is confronted by Sister Robert Anne with the fact that she is unhappy Playing Second Fiddle as the understudy and wants a solo of her own. Reverend Mother insists that her decisions are final and brings out Sister Mary Amnesia to tell the audience what it's like to be a nun.
To everyone's surprise, Sister Amnesia has brought her puppet, Sister Mary Annette to help out. Reverend Mother is shocked at their behaviour and asks that the spotlight be turned up as she takes centre stage herself. Unexpectedly, flowers arrive from the Ladies' Altar Society. The fragrance of the lilacs brings back memories and Sister Leo has an idea this could help Sister Amnesia. When it doesn't work, Sister Mary Hubert leads everyone in a rousing tap number. Reverend Mother gets a little carried away and they decide to take a break. Reverend Mother is delayed at the beginning of the second half of the program and so Sister Robert Anne entertains the audience with stories of growing up Catholic.
When Reverend Mother returns she informs the sisters that they have received a summons from the New Jersey Board of Health and they must clean out the freezer. The program continues as Reverend Mother and Sister Hubert perform Just a Coupl'a Sisters. Finally Reverend Mother allows Sister Robert Anne to sing a solo explaining that she just wants to be a star. This is followed by The Drive-In sung by the Saint Andrew's Sisters of Hoboken.
Sister Amnesia is then left alone on stage to tell a story. When she is telling the audience that she could've gone to Nashville and become a country singer she suddenly remembers who she is — Sister Mary Paul! Reverend Mother recalls that Sister Mary Paul was the name of the nun who won the Publishers' Clearing House Sweepstakes and no one could ever find her. There is much joy as the sisters realise they have all the money they need. Sister Hubert gives some last minute advice on becoming a saint. And then the finale is sung leaving no doubt that everyone will live happily ever after!
* "Habit forming." The New York Times
* "Nunsense is good old-fashioned comedy at its best: it is quick paced,
generally raucous, occasionally touching and totally wonderful. Bravo!" Back
Stage
Musical Numbers:
1. Nunsense is Habit-Forming - Cast
2. A Difficult Transition - Cast
3. Benedicite /The Biggest Ain't the Best - Sr. Hubert and Sr. Leo
4. Playing Second Fiddle - Sr. Robert Anne
5. So You Want to be a Nun - Sr. Mary Amnesia
6. Turn Up the Spotlight - Sr. Mary Cardelia
7. Lilacs Bring Back Memories Cast
8. Tackle That Temptation With a Time-Step - Sr. Hubert and Cast
9. Growing Up Catholic - Sr. Robert Anne and Cast
10. We've Got to Clean Out the Freezer - Cast
11. Just a Coupl 'a Sisters - Srs. Cardelia and Hubert
12. I Just Want to be a Star - Sr. Robert Anne
13. The Drive-In - The Saint Andrew's Sisters
14. I Could've Gone to Nashville - Sr. Mary Amnesia
15. Holier than Thou - Sr. Hubert and Cast
16. Finale - Cast
The Cast: F5
* Sister Mary Regina - Mother Superior: a feisty, overweight Sophie
Tucker-type who can't resist the spotlights.
* Sister Mary Hubert - Mistress of Novices: the second-in -command, she is
always competing with the Mother Superior.
* Sister Robert Anne - a streetwise, tough character from Brooklyn, a constant
source of irritation for the Mother Superior
* Sister Mary Amnesia - this nun lost her memory after a crucifix fell on her
head; she is very sweet.
* Sister Mary Leo - the novice, who has entered the convent with the firm desire
to become the first nun ballerina.
Orchestration:
Reeds, Drums, Synthesizer