Nunsense

Nunsense.  Nonsense.  What’s in a name? Well here it is important, as this musical tells the story of five nuns attempting to raise money to bury their dead colleagues. After the Mother Superior wasted what money they had, the decision is made to hold a variety concert in the school hall. The nuns offer a cross-section of society in their backgrounds and we are entertained as their pasts are revealed, along with their hopes, through song, movement and dance. The whole concept is great and explains why the show has been so successful since it began in 1985.

Director Brenda White has directed this production with good pace and movement. She has achieved a great response from the cast members, who inter-acted extremely well. The cast of five displayed the diversity of the characters and their backgrounds while still being members of the close knit order. Colleen Crisp was good as Mother Mary Higgins – a former circus performer – as this was the focus role of the five. The other four cast members were consistently good in their roles too. Rachel Matthews was the tap dancing second-in-command Sister Mary Hubert; Meg Bennett played Sister Robert Anne, a street wise Brooklynite; Sarah Willoughby was the want-to-be ballerina Sister Mary Leo and finally Emily McCormick complete the acting ensemble as Sister Amnesia. I won’t spoil the play by telling of her past.

This was a fluent production, with a versatile ensemble that presented much of the story line through the many songs that covered a very wide range of styles and singer combinations. Nunsense is not your usual musical comedy but it is light, very enjoyable entertainment. Well, I certainly enjoyed this production. I recommend it – a good night out.

William Davies