THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1996, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Wednesday, June 5, 1996 TAG: 9606050383
SECTION: LOCAL PAGE: B2 EDITION: NORTH CAROLINA
SOURCE: BY FRANK ROBERTS, STAFF WRITER
LENGTH: 62 lines
There are none funnier than the Little Sisters of Hoboken, five nuns with good habits and crazy routines.
There are singing nuns and dancing nuns, a stand-up comedian nun and a ventriloquist nun.
``Nunsense 2 - The Second Coming,'' is not quite as hilarious as its predecessor, ``Nunsense,'' but it comes mighty close.
The predecessor, offered by the Encore Theatre Co. a few years ago, featured two of the performers who are also on stage in this production, which runs June 6 through 9.
Donna Simons returns as Sister Robert Anne, and Rose Donahue is Sister Mary Paul, much better known as Amnesia. Hers is the meatiest role, and her performance is outstanding.
Donahue constantly chatters, continually displays a toothy smile - and completely charms the playgoers, who often find themselves part of the production.
For one thing, they get to play Bingo, described by playwright Dan Goggins as ``the next best thing to Heaven.'' The game, conducted by Amnesia, is one of the production's funniest scenes.
``Nunsense 2'' is 95 percent funny, interspersed with a few moments of balladry. When those slow songs come on, you get the feeling you got when you were a kid watching a cowboy movie. Remember? Now's the time to hit the popcorn stand.
Otherwise, the funny nunnies offer some hilarious dialogue, spoken and sung. It is a mix of corn that's as high as an elephant's eye, sprinkled with double-entendre gags. There is irreverency, but only enough to make ultra-conservatives blush, and there are one-liners that would have made Groucho proud.
The cast that delivers all of the above is excellent. They portray five funny nuns, each with her own wonderful personality, captured perfectly by the performers.
Nun one is Sister Mary Regina, the Mother Superior, a superior performance by Mary Cherry. Second-in-command is Sister Mary Hubert, a warm and happy portrayal by Dorothy O. Wills.
Robin Tripp is Sister Mary Leo, a premier danseuse, at one time performing on skates. That bit is done so she can be referred to as a Holy Roller.
There's one more nun, a tiny thing called Sister Mary Annette. Amnesia is the ventriloquist in this very funny bit.
Everything is fun, but some songs and scenes stand out a little above the crowd: Cherry singing ``Look, Ma, I Made It,'' a title that lets you know it's a showstopper in the Jolson-Streisand tradition; Cherry and Wills, getting unintentionally high - they thought they were drinking water; Cherry and Wills, with ``What Would Elvis Do?''
Another highlight is the foot-stompin' singalong, ``There's Only One Way To Say Your Prayers.''
There is nothing the matter with ``Nunsense 2.'' It is a no-nonsense 10. ILLUSTRATION: [Box]
THEATER PREVIEW
WHAT: The Encore Theatre Co. presents ``Nunsense 2 - The Second
Coming.''
WHEN: 8 p.m. June 6-8, and 3 p.m. June 9.
WHERE: Main Street Stage, Pasquotank Arts Council Building Loft,
downtown Elizabeth City. by CNB