Some 20 years
since it was launched, “Nunsense A-men!” and its silly bit of fluff are going strong, writes Matt Palm.
It has been more than 30 years since the original “Nunsense” opened, and some 20 years since creator Dan Goggin thought to add a gender-bending element to his singing sisters by launching “Nunsense Amen!”
In what might qualify as a minor miracle, this silly bit of fluff is going strong — proving you don’t really need to worry about a plot if you come up with a gimmick that strikes the public’s funny bone.
Winter Park Playhouse’s “Nunsense A-men!” is blessed with winning performers and the musical panache music director Christopher Leavy and his players always bring to the Playhouse’s productions. (Unusually, some severe microphone problems plagued one performer during a recent matinee.)
Director Roy Alan also serves as choreographer and knows how to work the Playhouse stage to produce the most crowd-pleasing moments.
The cast is solidly anchored by vets David Michael Green, Victor Souffrant and Shawn Kilgore — who performed on the show’s national cast recording a decade ago, albeit in a different role.
Relative newcomer Michael Scott Ross and Playhouse newbie Ryan Daniel Corridoni make the strongest impressions, especially with their dancing. Corridoni has a swell time as wannabe ballerina Sister Mary Leo. Ross, meanwhile, has a field day rapidly switching his voice from innocent Sister Mary Amnesia to the plain-talking puppet attached to his arm.
There really is nothing of substance here, and many of the jokes are showing their age — though I appreciated the few contemporary references added in.
But if catchy tunes and appealing performers are all you require, you’ll leave satisfied — just as millions have done before.
Tip 1: The entire run of the show is virtually sold out so the Playhouse has added an extra performance at 2 p.m. Friday. This performance is the best bet to find tickets.
Tip 2: You can take the music from the show home with you. Goggin, the show’s creator, has donated copies of the national cast recording to the Playhouse, which is selling them for $10 apiece at the box-office window. It’s your chance to hear Kilgore performing his original role of Sister Mary Amnesia; he’s hungry-for-fame Sister Robert Anne in this production.
Tip 3: If you want to hear the gents of “Nunsense A-men!” sing without the drag, check out their upcoming “Out of the Habit and Back to Broadway.” The five performers will sing musical-theater classics as part of the Playhouse’s Spotlight Cabaret series. Shows will be at 7:30 p.m. Wednesday and Thursday in the venue’s piano-bar lobby. Tickets are $20 plus a drink from the bar.