The current show at the Granite Theatre is "Nunsense II". The Second Coming takes place six weeks after the sisters have staged their first benefit to. The Little Sisters of Hoboken, NJ are back presenting a "thank-you" show for all the people who supported them in the past to help bury their dead nuns. But now, they're a bit slicker having been "bitten by the theater bug." Things get off to a rousing start as the five sisters sing "Nunsense, the Magic Word" but before long, chaos erupts. Two Franciscans, big Sister Brunhilde and little Sister Fritz, come to claim Sister Mary Amnesia (who has won the Publisher's Clearing House Sweepstakes) as one of their own. At the same time the nuns hear that a talent scout is in the audience to see them strut their stuff. From the Reverend Mother's grand entrance at the start of the show to the rousing finale "There's Only One Way to end Your Prayers" and "That's to Say Amen.", this high energy show which is a sequel to "Nunsense", will have to you roaring with laughter at these five talented actresses. Director David Jepson and musical director Audrey Kaiser  cast five wonderful women in these roles and their acting, singing and dancing will entertain you all night long.

 

The five splendid actresses are Carol B. Lyon as Sister Regina, Sue Staniunas as Sister Hubert, Mary Sue Chiaradio as Sister Robert Anne, Dale Magnuson as Sister Amnesia and Manon Kreider as Sister Leo. Since this show isn't as well known as Nunsense I, a brief synopsis of it follows. The variety show uses "The Mikado" set as the background. A high speed recap of the first show narrated by Hubert from a long scroll and acted out by Robert Anne, Amnesia and Leo. A note then arrives to tell them a talent scout sent by Simon Cowell is in the audience so they sing "Winning is Just the Beginning" and play directly to the audience to impress him. This lead to a wacky bingo game run by Amnesia with everyone winning at the same time. Sister Leo the novice wants to be a ballerina nun but Reverend Mother forbids her to wear her tutu and toe shoes. So she sings "The Prima Ballerina" on roller skates. Hubert advises Leo "The Biggest Still Ain't the Best" while Robert Anne tells Regina "I've Got Pizazz". Regina feels confident the show will be a success and proclaims so in her show stopping number called "Look Ma, I Made It" and ends it while strutting about as a stripper with ostrich feathers. She then introduces the newest singing sensation, Amnesia, who re-enters the stage with Sister Mary Annette (her puppet) to perform "The Country Nun" while wearing red cowboy boots. Later on she plays the accordion during "The Padre Polka" while Hubert and Leo polka together. The nuns then receive a phone call which makes Regina faint. They search for water but Amnesia gives her the Saki which was for "The Mikado". Regina and Hubert get drunk and sing "The Classic Queens" about wanting to be old time movie stars. The major problem now facing the nuns is the Franciscans claim that they want Amnesia back and the money she won, too. Act 1 closes with Hubert and Regina dancing as geisha girls while the others dance and sing "Hat and Cane Song".

 

Act 2 opens with the nuns trying to figure out who the two Franciscans are. Robert Anne entertains the audience with her habit humor and then moves the crowd to tears with her song about her childhood friend, Annie Green who doesn't like the new habits. Regina and she sing the lead in "Angeline" while the others sing backup. They think of different ways to make money including burying the dead in "We're the Nuns to Come to When You Go". Hubert wishes it was 1962 again and she and Regina sing "What Would Elvis Do? while the other three nuns do a can can to "Yes We Can". The other way to make money is The Catholics Guide to Gift Giving, non Catholic items are in the back of the book. Robert Anne proclaims "I Am Here to Stay" while the audience sing along number is "What A Catastrophe". Regina returns to tell Amnesia she has to leave with the Franciscans and she sings a tear jerking number called "No One Cared Like You".  But since this is a Nunsense show, there must be a happy ending so Regina and Hubert declare "The Only Way to End Your Prayers" where they ask the audience to shout out Amen at certain times during it. Carol commands the stage as Regina, the authority figure while Sue struts her stuff as second in command, Hubert with always a laugh and a wink. Mary Sue is a hoot as the street wise Robert Anne who beats up the Franciscans as is Dale as the daffy, Amnesia who is hilarious especially with her puppet. Last but not least is Manon as the novice, Leo who shows off her strong voice in the show. The group numbers shine especially the Latin ones with the harmony Audrey taught them. She also plays the keyboards for the show while Peter McLaughlin is the percussionist. The two story set is by David Jepson while his lovely wife, Beth is the stage manager who keeps things running smoothly all night long. Tai Scavetta handles all the lighting and sound cues wonderfully. So for a terrific show be sure to catch "Nunsense II".

 NUNSENSE II ( 12 October to 18 November, 2007)
Granite Theatre, 1 Granite Street, Westerly, RI
1 (401) 596-2341 or www.granitetheatre.com