Nunsense (1998)

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The Little Sisters of Hoboken, residents of Mt. St. Helens Convent and teachers at the school, have a problem. It seems Sister Julia (Child of God) has accidentally killed off 52 sisters with a botulism-laced vichyssoise. But even worse, the remaining nuns only had enough cash to bury 48 of the… More The Little Sisters of Hoboken, residents of Mt. St. Helens Convent and teachers at the school, have a problem. It seems Sister Julia (Child of God) has accidentally killed off 52 sisters with a botulism-laced vichyssoise. But even worse, the remaining nuns only had enough cash to bury 48 of the dearly departed; the other four are in the freezer. Nunsense is a benefit concert staged by the Little Sisters to raise money for a proper burial (before the health inspector comes).

Mother Superior Mary Regina (Rue McClanahan) is determined to put on a good show and raise some money with the help of her faithful followers Sister Robert Anne (Christine Anderson), Sister Mary Amnesia (Semina De Laurentis), Sister Mary Leo (Christine Toy), and Sister Mary Hubert (Terri White). McClanahan knows how to work a live audience and keeps them laughing. Though she's not a singer, she admirably talks her way through Dan Goggin's songs. The other sisters have terrific voices; while most of the songs are chorus style, each does get a chance to shine. Streetwise Sister Robert Anne's number "I Just Want to Be a Star" is particularly good, and a medley by the "St. Andrews Sisters" exemplifies the sisters' lovely and strong harmony.

Nunsense, filmed off-Broadway in 1993, is good, clean fun filled with enthusiastic performers and well-done songs. The choreography, however, is rather unimaginative. You don't need to have attended Catholic school to enjoy Nunsense. There are a few pokes at the Catholic religion, but Nunsense is mainly a gentle send-up of the convent way of life, told through the lens of a zany musical comedy. --Dana Van Nest