YOUNGSTOWN PLAYHOUSE Perennial favorite 'Nunsense' returns

This play is a lot of fun, the director says.
By L. CROW
VINDICATOR CORRESPONDENT
In 1986, Dan Goggin wrote the first of many "Nunsense" musicals, which won the Outer Critic's Award for best musical, book and music.
His success spawned a number of sequels, which have become hugely popular all over the country. Youngstown is no exception. The original "Nunsense" is a sure winner with area theatergoers, and the Youngstown Playhouse is presenting it again.
The story is about the Little Sisters of Hoboken (N.J.), who previously ran a leper colony near the south of France, and now operate Mount Saint Helen's School.
One day the cook, Sister Julia, Child of God, accidentally serves vichyssoise tainted with botulism, and 52 of the nuns die. Fortunately, five of them, including Mother Superior, were out playing bingo, so their lives were spared. They thought they had plenty of money to bury all the nuns, so the reverend mother bought a big screen TV. After the money runs out, she discovers, to her dismay, that there are still four more to bury. So, they put them in deep freeze and hold a variety show to raise funds
Show within show
"This play is pure silliness," says director David Jendre. "It is a show within a show. The nuns perform in the school gym, against a backdrop of 'Grease,' which the eighth-grade class is putting on."
The reverend mother is played by Terri Wilkes. Sister Mary Hubert, second in command and mistress of novices, is played by Monica Beasley-Martin. Sister Mary Amnesia, (Allyson Pollice) cannot remember who she is or where she comes from.
Sister Robert Anne, the street-wise nun from Brooklyn, wants to be a star. She is played by Colleen Crish, who is also the assistant choreographer. "Sister Robert Anne is the cool nun -- the kids can relate to her," says Crish, of McDonald. "She is reverend mother's understudy for the talent show, but wants to take over."
Brandy Johanntges, a deejay at Rock 104 radio station, is originally from Alberta, Canada, and now lives in Struthers. She is playing the part of Sister Mary Leo, the novice who wants to be a ballerina. "She wants to dedicate her life to God through dance but can't understand why she isn't allowed to wear a tutu," says Johanntges.
"She is buddies with Sister Robert Anne, who corrupts her, while the others struggle to keep on the right path. She is goofy, free-spirited, bubbly, na & iuml;ve -- a really fun character to play."
There is nothing whatsoever serious about any of these characters.
"This show is pretty much a lark," says Jendre. "But it entails a lot of work. Comedy is very difficult to do. The ladies are working so hard, and they are onstage almost the whole time. There is music, dancing, dialogue, and when things finally start to click in rehearsal, it is hysterical. The ladies are naturally funny on their own, and that just adds to the insanity. We are having a blast."