MAKING 'NUNSENSE': MUSICAL COMEDY WILL BE PRESENTED OVER THREE WEEKENDS (REVIEW)

From left, are Lori Prewitt, Megwyn Sanders, Anna Ruggiero, Ellen Dillon and Kim Westrich perform a scene during dress rehearsal for the musical comedy "Nunsense."

Though "Nunsense" is an inspired musical romp that does for Catholicism what Monty Python did for the Holy Grail, you certainly don't have to be Catholic to spend the night in the throes of a prolonged belly laugh.

The River City Players' version of the award-winning musical comedy opens Friday night at the Cape Girardeau Country Club. Other performances are scheduled Saturday night and Aug. 28-29 at the Country Club.

Due to the demand for tickets, more performances have been added Sept. 10-12 at the River City Yacht Club. All performances except the Sept. 10 show will be in a dinner theater format.

Doors open for the dinner theater shows at 6:30 p.m. Tickets are $18.50. Tickets for the 7 p.m. show Sept. 10 are $5. Reservations are required.

"Nunsense" is presented in the form of a fund-raising performance staged by the five remaining members of the Little Sisters of Hoboken. It seems their cook, Sister Julia-Child of God, has decimated the order by serving tainted vichysoisse.

The sisters who weren't poisoned were playing bingo with some Maryknolls. They raised some money for burials but came up short. The bodies of the four remaining nuns remain in the Mount Saint Helen's School freezer.

Laying those "four blue nuns" to rest is the excuse for "Nunsense," but these five seem to need none to put on a show.

Each has her own charm. Leading the way is the Reverend Mother (Ellen Dillon), a woman who finds it difficult being superior all the time. Dillon has the accent and the throaty reprimands perfect, and a way about herself that makes it all the funnier when the Reverend Mother finally cuts loose.

With a number of new board members, the River City Players have benefited as well in this production through an influx of help from the university. The other four members of the cast are members of the University Players.

Anna Ruggiero as Sister Hubert has perhaps the strongest voice on stage and lets it rip in the gospel-inflected "Holier Than Thou." Hers is a strong presence you find yourself missing when she's offstage.

Another showstopper is "I Just Want to be a Star," sung by Sister Robert Anne (Kim Westrich), perhaps the most stagestruck member of the sisterhood. In this scene and others, Westrich demonstrates a malleable voice and a fine comic talent..

Then there's Sister Amnesia, who forgot her past when hit over the head with a crucifix. As Sister Amnesia, Lori Prewitt provides a slyly subtle performance that is responsible for one of the production's funniest scenes, a bit with her alter ego nun puppet.

Playing the novitiate Sister Leo Megwyn Sanders, whose beatific face and earnest ballet prayers hit just the right note of innocence seeking a means of expression.

If this quintet loosens up even more on opening night and really lets the show take over, watch out.

River City Players President Chuck Ross is directing his first musical with this show, and with assistant Stacey Storey keeps the bits moving along at a good pace.

Musical Director Ann Swanson and Dr. Dan Cotner provide tasteful accompaniment on piano and synthesizer, respectively.

The stage manager is Lori Fields assisted by Emily Johnson. The choreography is by Raina Childers, former choreography for the Southeast gymnastics team.

It's possible some Catholics could be offended by the show. A priest walked out of a performance staged in the city a few years ago.

But "Nunsense" does not make fun of nuns. It makes nuns fun.