BWW Reviews: NUNSENSE - The Mega-Musical - A Mega-Hit!

By: Sep. 23, 2013
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BWW REVIEWS: "NUNSENSE" - The Mega-Musical! - A MEGA-HIT!
By Dan Goggin
Directed by Jim Russell & James Cass
Produced by James Cass & Frank Stinehour
Musical Direction by Nancy Fueyo
Choreography by Stephen Antonelli
Saturday, September 21, 2013
BRAVO! "You don't have to be Catholic to LOVE "NUNSENSE"!
The Carrollwood Players has produced an array of stunning plays this past season. "NUNSENSE" -The Mega-Musical is the first musical production that I have seen there and it is a WOW!
"NUNSENSE" The Mega-Musical, is Dan Goggin's,(1985 hit musical comedy, "NUNSENSE"), with original script and score of the 5 woman cast, played now, with a cast of 13 woman and 1 male doubling as 2 priests!
"NUNSENSE" is a spoof, full of "campy"NON"sense and "NON"-stop fun! And that is exactly what you will see in this intimate production by the Carrollwood Players.
The story revolves around the "Little Sisters of Hoboken", who need to raise money to bury 4, (out of the 52 dead nuns) who were accidentally poisoned by the "deadly soup" prepared by the convent cook. So the surviving Sisters, Reverend Mother, Sister Mary Cordelia, (a former circus performer), the mistress of novices, Sister Mary Hubert, the street wise, Sister Robert Anne, the "befuddled", Sister Mary Amnesia, (who lost her memory when a crucifix fell on her head), and a young novitiate (and wannabe ballerina), Sister Mary Leo, put on a musical/benefit , to raise money to bury the 4 remaining dead nuns.
The evening began, before the performance, with nuns selling Bingo cards in the lobby, addressing patrons with amusing and whimsical ad-libs. Father Devine rallied the "girls" and the patrons into the "auditorium" for the Bingo game. A prize was awarded to the winner and then the show began.
Directors Jim Russell and James Cass have assembled a well-rehearsed, talented, ensemble of actors. Each of them were very comfortable delivering the one line jokes and adlibs with audience interaction.
Pam Rufrano leads the cast as the Irish accented, disciplinarian, Reverend Mother, Sister Mary Cordelia. Her getting high,"RUSH" monologue, brought the audience to hysterics, a highlight of her performance.
As the wise-cracking, Brooklyn born, Sister Robert Anne, Nicole Bridgens was outstanding. Her two solos, "I Just Want to Be a Star"and "Growing Up Catholic", became a showcase for her talents to shine. Ms. Bridgens displayed her remarkable musicality by keeping up perfectly, with the brisk tempos of the tracked accompaniment.
Jen Martin as the "vacant" and naive, Sister Mary Amnesia, displayed her vocal range, with the faux-operatic, "So You Want to Be a Nun" to the country western style, "I Could've Gone to Nashville". She won over the audience with her interactive "Quiz", puppetry, and humorous adlibs.
The "Dying Nun Ballet" was performed on pointe, with great comic relief, by Hillary Lusignan as Sister Mary Leo. She was lovely, as the young, petite, novitiate.
As Sister Mary Hubert, Ann Lehman, was perfectly cast, delivering her dry, deadpan, one line zingers. In the 11th hour, she got the audience clapping and swaying in their seats, with the gospel-like, "Holier Than Thou".
Rounding out the cast were Nancy Fueyo, Chelsea Orvis, Kendra Langlie, Laura Roberts, Jeanede MacLean, Susan Dearden, Heather Haskell, James Cass, and an emergency replacement,(for an ailing Josh Duart), Chris Dietz.
Bravo!, to Director Jim Russell and James Cass and choreographer Steven Antonelli, for staging a delightful, innovative, production of the 28 year old, theatrical mainstay. Musical Director, Nancy Fueyo produced some lovely harmonies, especially in the Andrew Sisters inspired, "Drive In". The set design by James Cass was exquisite, with an amazing attention to detail. Lighting Design by Frank Stinehour was effective. Costumes by Chris Dietz were "perfectly parochial". James Cass as Stage Manager kept the show moving smoothly.
Please support Community Theatre and all of the volunteers, that put in endless time and talent, to make the magic happen, simply... "for the LOVE of the theatre".

If you wat to LAUGH OUT LOUD....Go see it!

"NUNSENSE" - The Mega Musical!" runs September 6th through September 28th, 2013
Ticket Prices $21.00 Adults Under 62
$18 Seniors Age 62 and Up, Students, or Military w/ID
Group Discounts Available
CALL - (813) 265-4000
The theatre is located at 4335 Gunn Hwy Tampa, Fl, 33618
The next production at Carrollwood Players is "A Murder is Announced", by Agatha Christie - adapted by Leslie Darbon, Oct 11- Oct 27, 2013.

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