The Riverhead Faculty and Community Theatre presents the musical-comedy Nunsense this weekend and next on the stage of the Vail Music Hall in downtown Riverhead.
Nunsense is the second-longest-running Off-Broadway show in history (after The Fantastiks.) Originating as a
The show is about the efforts of the surviving members of the Order of the Little Sisters of Hoboken to raise money to cover the burial costs of the last four (of 52) members of their convent who were accidentally poisoned by their cook, Sr. Julia, Child of God. Interment of the other 48 nuns was paid for with proceeds from a line of greeting cards, inspired by a vision that came to Mother Superior. To pay for the burial of the remaining four sisters, whose bodies are stored in the convent freezer, five nuns take over a high school auditorium to mount a fundraising variety show. They must inter the nuns before the health inspector comes and finds the dead nuns on ice in the deep freeze.
line of greeting cards, it was expanded into a cabaret that ran for 38 weeks and eventually into a full-length theater production. It opened in December 1985 and ran for 3,672 performances. The show, written by Dan Goggin, became an international sensation, translated into 26 languages with more than 8,000 productions worldwide.
Show times are Friday and Saturday, Nov. 15, 16, 22 and 23 at 8 p.m., Sunday, Nov. 17 and 24 at 2 p.m. Tickets — $15/adults, $7.50/students — are available at the door Bach/Grazina Orthodontics, 235 Osborn Ave. (727-2655) and Wedel Signs, 705 West Main St. (727-4577.) Cash or check only.
The Vail Leavitt Music Hall is located at 18 Peconic Avenue, Riverhead.
RFCT’s Nunsense cast:
Sister Mary Regina/Mother Superior (Marguerite Volonts):
The head of the convent, she is respected greatly by the sisters. While she is strict, she has a hard time keeping the craziness of the convent at bay. She keeps her guard up in front of the nuns, but has an extroverted side. Part requires some very physical humor. The character may be played with an Irish accent.
Sister Mary Humbert (Marion Stark):
Hubert is in charge of novices, but fancies herself a Mother Superior and is constant competition with Mary Regina. She exudes maternal wisdom to novices, but also likes to let loose.
Sister Robert Anne (April Keogh):
Once a child delinquent herself, this rough tough nun is a jokester and constantly challenging authority. She speaks with a thick Brooklyn accent and constantly displays her lack of refinement.
Sister Mary Amnesia (Dee Martin):
As the name suggests, she has lost her memory and does not know who she is except that she is a nun. She is spacey and incoherent, often slipping into displays inappropriate for a nun.
Sister Mary Leo (Laura Nitti):
Leo is the novice nun, still learning the way and coming to terms with her decision to give up “civilian” life. She is a ballerina and displays her talents through much of the show. She is also easily swayed to join in mischief.
Stage Manager: Glenn Abramowitz
Chorus of Nuns: Heather Cusack, Patti Hautsch, Deb Rothaug, Pat Speed, Kathy Wever
Nunsense by Dan Goggin
Co-directors: Diana Horn and Jayne Freedman
Producer: Patti Hautsch
Assistant Producer: Jan McKenna
Choreographer: Jayne Freedman
Musical Director: Bobby Peterson
Stage Manager: Michael Horn
RiverheadLOCAL photos by Emil Breitenbach Jr.
Click thumbnails to enlarge images
{gallery}2013/slideshows/2013_1108_nunsense{/gallery}
The survival of local journalism depends on your support.
We are a small family-owned operation. You rely on us to stay informed, and we depend on you to make our work possible. Just a few dollars can help us continue to bring this important service to our community.
Support RiverheadLOCAL today.