BWW Reviews: NUNSENSE Muny Style

Knowing full well it's popular reputation, but having seen only one production, I had moderately high expectations for The Muny's take on Dan Goggin's musical comedy, Nunsense. I'm not Catholic, so I assumed that some of the humor might be lost on me. Through osmosis alone, I've probably absorbed enough knowledge of the religion's rites, rituals and dogma to get the gist. There are some amusing bits to be found here and there, and this version makes sure to throw in some local humor as well, but the songs aren't especially memorable, and the jokes often fail to hit the mark. Maybe the real problem is the fact that this is a small, and sometimes even intimate, show that gets lost on The Muny's vast stage. However, there are some fine performances from a terrific cast deserving of your time and attention.

For the uninitiated, the story follows some very fortunate Nuns, The Little Sisters of Hoboken, who just happened to be attending a bingo game at another church when the rest of their fellow Sisters were accidentally poisoned. They need to accumulate enough funds to cover the burial expenses of their fallen comrades, so they decide to stage a benefit to raise money for their order, and that's the performance that the audience at The Muny witnesses.

Tari Kelly and Terri White stand out as Sister Mary Amnesia and Sister Mary Hubert, respectively. Sister Amnesia is a scene stealing role, and Kelly has her moves down pat. She effortlessly works the crowd during a quiz about the Little Sisters' history, and her vocal tale of woe, "I Could've Gone to Nashville", is surprisingly heart-tugging. Her use of a hand puppet during "So You Want to Be a Nun", is hilarious. As the Mistress of the Novices, Sister Hubert, White displays one of the strongest voices among the cast, and gets the chance to shine on "Tackle that Temptation with a Time Step" and "Holier Than Thou".

Dee Hoty tries hard as Sister Mary Regina, the Mother Superior, and shows a knack for physical comedy. A highlight of the first act occurs when she inhales an over the counter "stimulant", and suddenly becomes giddy and uninhibited. Beth Leavel's portrayal of streetwise Sister Robert Anne is appealing and funny. Her appearances bring considerable energy to the show, and she gives it her all during the solo number, "I Just Want to Be a Star". Sarah Meahl is a riot as the young novice, Sister Mary Leo, capably tackling the ballet moves required of her character. Lara Teeter and Ken Page, both veterans of The Muny, make memorable appearances with Page as Sister Mary Wilhem, and Teeter as Father Virgil.

Director Matt Lenz has a bevy of talent to work with, but the overall effect is a bit flat. However, he does keep the action moving at a decent pace, so any jokes that fail are quickly forgotten. Teri Gibson's choreography manages to artfully mix ballet, tap, and kick lines, and Michael Horsley deftly handles the musical direction. The set, in keeping with the script, is Steve Gillam's leftover scenic design for Shrek.

The Muny in Forest Park's uneven, but occasionally delightful, presentation of Nunsense (Muny Style) continues through July 7, 2013.

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