Theater Review: 'Nunsense' is habit-forming

From left: Briagha Stevens, Jennifer Bortz, Renée Mercer and Mary Young star in “Nunsense” at Garbeau's Dinner Theatre.

For anyone who has ever attended Catholic school, the idea of nuns dancing around and making jokes about religion is one that has potential to be quite entertaining. “Nunsense,” the latest production from Garbeau's Dinner Theatre, is non-stop entertainment. Moving from one song to the next with witty jokes in between, the cast of five nuns is backed up by a two-man band of drums and a keyboard.

When 52 nuns, uh, expire due to botulism contracted from Sister Julia, Child of God's cooking, the remaining five (who luckily were off playing bingo that fateful night) must raise money to bury the last four nuns. (After they had the 48 nuns buried, the Reverend Mother forgot to keep track of the budget and bought a VCR.)

Now the Order of the Little Sisters of Hoboken is out of cash and must come up with the money so they can take the last four nuns out of their freezer and give them a proper burial.

The fundraiser is being held in the local high school gymnasium, where the drama class is in the middle of a production of “Grease.” So the set for “Nunsense” looks like a high school gymnasium in the middle of a production of “Grease,” complete with a counter and barstools, a couch, and a poster of Marilyn Monroe. Of course, the sisters did add a statue of the Virgin Mary.

Because there are only five characters, their personalities are able to shine through better than with a large cast. The five nuns are the Reverend Mother, who, with her whistle, keeps the other sisters in order. Next in the “chain of command” is Sister Hubert; despite the fact that she doesn't like the name chosen for her, she's usually the happiest one. Sister Mary Amnesia, so named because she was hit on the head with a crucifix and forgot her real name, tends to forget other things as well. Sister Robert Anne dreams of a singing career that she almost pursued; and Sister Leo, the newest recruit, insists on ballet dancing in her habit.

As a supplement to their song-and-dance performance, the sisters entertain the idea of selling a cookbook to raise funds. Entitled “Baking with the BVM” (Blessed Virgin Mary), the cookbook includes such recipes as “Devil's Food Cake” and “Barbecue Ribs St. Joan.”

And, as if the premise of “Nunsense” itself weren't ridiculous enough, the show boasts such songs by the nuns as “I Could Have Gone to Nashville” and “We Got to Clean Out the Freezer.”

“Nunsense” is a unique production that pokes fun at religion in an inoffensive way, and is fun to watch from start to finish.

Ticket prices include dinner, which allows choices between several entrees. Tickets can also be purchased for the show only, but Garbeau's has food and service that are worth checking out. The show runs through Feb. 21, and has both evening and matinee shows. For more information, call the box office at (916) 985-6361.