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The Little Sisters of Hoboken are back where they started in this 25th Anniversary revival of Dan Goggin’s celebrated musical. After debuting as a cabaret show at the Duplex in Greenwich Village, it transferred to the Cherry Lane Theatre in 1985, where it currently has been reinstated as part of the theatre's Heritage Series. After a good ol’ Mt. St. Helen’s cheer, the impertinent, irreplaceable nuns are, once again, up to their antics of putting on a benefit to bury the four remaining sisters, from the original 52, who fell over dead into their soup, poisoned by Sister Julia, Child of God, while these five were off playing Bingo. The four deceased sisters are currently stuffed in a freezer awaiting their final resting place.
The fun and games are continuous as Reverend Mother Mary Regina (Bonnie Lee), Sister Mary Hubert (Bambi Jones), Sister Robert Anne (Maria Montana), Sister Mary Leo (Stephanie Wahl) and Sister Mary Amnesia (Jeanne Tinker) provide vignettes of laughter and musical numbers, religious irreverence and everything the convent wit might, or might not, allow in this two hour romp. The scene stealer is Sr. Mary Amnesia, whose priceless expressions of angst border between constipation and loonie-bird, trying to recall who she is. Occasionally, there’s a feeling of this is old hat and dated, but the nostalgia of the clever creativity seems to win one back, allowing us to just sit back, enjoy and chuckle.
Whether the Sisters are describing the Leper colony and poor Rose who lost her nose in “A Difficult Transition,” or Sr. Robert Anne is tired of “Playing Second Fiddle” in a long lyric list punctuated with a “kiss your ass-pirations goodbye.” The nuns “Tackle that Temptation with a Time Step,” in glowing bright colored tap shoes. There’s something for everyone, especially if you grew up Catholic, including St. Christopher Medals on a correct answer during audience participation.
Dan Goggin directs Nunsense, which has had numerous reincarnations throughout the many years – Nunsense A-Men! Nunsensation, Meshuggah-Nuns and more. Several seasoned actresses, including Rue McClanahan, Phyllis Diller, Kaye Ballard, Darlene Love and Sally Struthers have donned habits and joined the fold. Angelina Fiordellisi, artistic director at Cherry Lane Theatre, hopes this run will help the little theatre whose financing is down over 40%. Goggin has donated the set, his directing and playwriting fees.
This is a piece of theatrical nostalgia that will, most likely, live on forever.Cherry Lane Theatre, Commerce Street, NYC through July 18th. Telecharge: (212) 239-6200 www.cherrylanetheatre.org
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