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Little Sisters create Christmas 'Nunsense'
By JOY DAVIS-PLATT, Times Staff Writer
SPRING HILL -- At Stage West Community Playhouse, Christmastime means a visit not from Santa, but from the Little Sisters of Hoboken. Beginning today, the theater will present the off-Broadway musical Nuncrackers: The Nunsense Christmas Musical, a holiday favorite that takes up where the award-winning Nunsense left off. "I think this show brings the happiness and the meaning of Christmas," said director Wayne Raymond. "The audience gets both, and having nuns as the characters throws that little twist that makes it funnier, but also makes it that much more meaningful." While taping a holiday television special for a local cable access channel in the basement of the convent, the sisters of Mount St. Helen's School remind audiences of the true meaning of Christmas -- in their unique way. The highlight of the Little Sisters' annual Christmas program is a ballet based on The Nutcracker starring Sister Mary Leo as the Sugar Plum Fairy, but the music spans a variety of styles. Songs by award-winning composer Dan Goggin include a twangy country number called Santa Ain't Comin' to Our House, In the Convent, a rock tune fit for Aretha Franklin, and It's Better to Give, the show's big gospel number. Dressed in floor-length black habits, the performers go all out with physical comedy. As Sister Mary Paul (a.k.a. Sister Amnesia), Sharon Farnsworth dons a red glitter cowboy hat and red boots with rhinestone heels to sing a country-western number. Although she has won HAMI awards at Stage West for her roles as Mazeppa in Gypsy and Josefa in Shot in the Dark, Farnsworth is often remembered for her role as Sister Amnesia in previous Nunsense productions. With only one change to this year's lineup -- Stage West veteran Wahnita Dow plays the mistress of novices, Sister Mary Hubert -- Raymond said the show is a cinch to bring holiday chuckles. "There are a lot of reasons why this show is a real favorite," Raymond said. "And a strong cast is the biggest." At a glanceWHAT: Nuncrackers: The Nunsense Christmas Musical WHERE: Stage West Community Playhouse, 8390 Forest Oaks Blvd., Spring Hill. WHEN: Opens today and runs for two weekends. Shows are at 8 p.m. Fridays and Saturdays and at 2 p.m. Sundays. ADMISSION: Tickets are $14. The theater's box office is open from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Tuesdays, Wednesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays and one hour before each show. INFORMATION: Call 683-5113.
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