 The play Nunsense will be presented by the Actor's Studio on Ellis Street. From left, Delphine Litke plays Sister Hubert, Amber Bayani plays Sister Mary Leo, and Arlene Irwin plays Mother Superior, Sister Mary Regina. |
First introduced to the stage in 1985, the production has had many variations, sequels and spin-offs, all creating more hilarious antics thanks to the Little Sisters of Hoboken.
In presenting Nunsense, Kelowna Actors Studio has taken a few liberties and added an interesting twist, but stuck to the storyline which brings to the stage a bevy of nutty Catholic nuns with a pressing problem.
Arlene Irwin, complete with authentic Irish-lilting accent, picks up the role of Mother Superior, who is at the hub of the dilemma facing the Little Sisters.
"Our cook, Sister Julia, Child of God, has accidently poisoned 52 of our sisters with her tainted vichyssoise," Irwin said.
"The remaining sisters manage to raise enough money to bury 48 of them, but we don't have enough to bury the last four nuns because I decided to buy a 3D flat screen TV."
To rectify the problem, the nuns put their deceased sisters on ice in the freezer, and cook up an idea to stage a variety show to come up with the necessary funds.
"But we have to use the local school gym to do the show, which is also being used by the Grade 8 class production of Grease," added Delphine Litke, who takes on the persona of Sister Mary Hubert, second-in-command who aspires to be Mother Superior.
The nuns rally together to do the show, tapping into each sister's talents, which include Mother Superior's past as a circus performer and her penchant for stealing the spotlight, and Sister Mary Leo (Amber Bayani, a novice determined to be the first nun-ballerina, complete with tutu.)
"I live to dance, I love ballet, and keep trying to convince everyone I should be allowed to do it in a tutu, but the Mistress of Novices won't allow it," Bayani explained.
Adding to the madcap ideas are Sister Mary Amnesia (Kelly Whelan), who lost her memory when a crucifix fell on her head, and the overly streetwise Sister Robert Anne, played by Gillian Reed.
Together they dish out irreverently hilarious digs at religion, which although Catholic-skewed, can be easily understood by anyone.
"You don't need to be Catholic to get the humour, you don't need to be from any denomination, and references are explained. It's just a very funny show and we've got audience participation, too," Litke explained.
Getting the audience involved with the on-stage antics could spell trouble for the actors, who are trying to follow a script, but that portion of the show doesn't daunt the outgoing nuns, who welcome the breaking down of the fourth wall with ease.
"Connecting with the audience is exciting and fun," Litke said of the improvisation segments. "We've been given the freedom to do improv with the audience, and we hope they'll feel the whimsy and just go with it."
The audience will be asked to participate in a quiz and, of course, a bingo game.
"f they get too sassy, we'll just give them a few Hail Mary's," Litke added.
The show highlights a wide variety of musical numbers which tackle numerous music genres from country to gospel and rock, and include catchy tunes like Growing up Catholic, The Dying Nun Ballet, So You Want to be a Nun and the signature piece, Nunsense is Habit-Forming.
Since first gracing the stage, Nunsense has prompted six sequels and attracted an interesting mixture of personalities to the role of Mother Superior, including Priscilla Presley, former wife of Elvis, and Cindy Williams, of Laverne and Shirley fame.
The original show ran for 3,672 performances as well as being staged numerous times in Las Vegas, and is being resurrected on tour this fall.
QUICKFACTS
What: Nunsense, a wacky musical comedy.
When: Feb. 8 - 25, 8 p.m., with a 1 p.m. matinee on Saturday (runs each week Wednesday to Sunday)
Where: Kelowna Actors Studio, 1379 Ellis St.
Tickets: Dinner and show or show only options, available at the box office, 250-862-2867 or KelownaActorsStudio.com
