Struthers Saves Christmas in Nuncrackers

Looking around the Los Angeles theatre scene in the past few months, it might be difficult to find a production not involving a nun or two, with the national tour of Doubt at the Ahmanson or the Broadway-bound Sister Act the Musical setting up shop at the Pasadena Playhouse.  Not to mention the long-running Nunsense series of farce now on stage at the El Portal Theatre in the form of Nuncrackers, The Nunsense Christmas Musical, starring Sally Struthers and Adrian Zmed.

Perhaps it is the overabundance of habit humor, but lyricist-writer Dan Goggin's Nuncrackers book seems slightly tired, lacking the zip of other Nunsense incarnations.  This time, many of the nuns from earlier shows return for a Christmas-themed television broadcast from the basement of the convent, but not before one folly after another ensues, leading to one sister literally breaking a leg before show time and an ordeal with the police investigating an apparent robbery of the nun's holiday presents.  That is not to say the evening fails to provide the occasional laugh, but many of Goggin's jokes feel stale and somewhat forced.

The upside to this holiday skit lies in its leads, as Struthers and Zmed save Christmas with their jovial interpretation of convent leaders, not to mention their television recognizability, which in Nuncrackers should warm even the harshest of critics.

Struthers, best known for her turn as Gloria Bunker Stivic on the classic TV sitcom "All in the Family," bursts through the lacking book as Sister Mary Regina, Mount Saint Helen's Reverend Mother.  As soon as she pounces on stage, the night's festivities immediately start looking brighter, and in the hands of this veteran of stage and screen, the mood stays light and cheery.

Zmed, of "T.J. Hooker" fame, takes on the amusing role of Father Virgil Manly Trott, who, during what turns out to be the highlight of the evening, stands in for Sister Julia, in full church-ordained drag, demonstrating how to bake up the holiday staple fruitcake, and falls victim to one too many swigs of rum.

In fact, most of the cast, including Annalisa Erickson (Sister Mary Hubert), Heidi Godt (Sister Robert Anne), Shanon Mari Mills (Sister Mary Paul) and four uber-adorable youngsters, Lindsay Jordan, Scott Rain, Anza Seller and B.J. Wallace, make the most of Nuncrackers, which only makes one wonder what they might have accomplished with better material.  Seller, the youngest of the troupe, is as sweet as a candy cane, and steals the spotlight from the entire ensemble whenever on stage.

With set design by Brett Banakis, the on-stage musicians blend into the school holiday pagent-esque scenery nicely.  Nuncrackers has direction and choreography by Kay Cole, lighting by Steven Young, costumes by Thomas G. Marquez and musical direction by Steven Applegate.

The Christmas Musical is presented by Valley Musical Theatre and Ronn Goswick helms as executive director.  Performances continue through Sunday, December 3, 2006.  Tickets can be purchased by calling 818-508-4200, online at www.elportaltheatre.com or at the El Portal Theatre box office, located at 5269 Lankershim Boulevard, North Hollywood.  Ticket prices range from $32.50 to $45.

Need more Los Angeles Theatre News in your life?
Sign up for all the news on the Summer season, discounts & more...