Nunsense is a Hoot

Kymm Hansen

The hilarious musical comedy, "Nunsense" is rocking the rafters at the rustic Pine Hills Lodge & Dinner Theatre in Julian. Artistic Director Scott Kinney has scoured the hillsides to find a cast of five very talented women to play the Little Sisters of Hoboken.

Barbara Keresztury heads the cast as the Mother Superior with Mary Van Cleve, Kristen Kobs, Kymm Hansen and Alayne Lewis as the nuns.

"Nunsense," written by Dan Goggin, takes place in a Catholic girls school where 52 nuns recently met their demise under the ill-begotten concoctions of the school’s chef, Sister Julia, Child of God.

The well-meaning Mother Superior has blown the burial funds on a new television and VCR, so the remaining bodies were put in the freezer. In hopes of raising the money, the sisters are staging a variety show.

And that’s where the story begins.

To add to the mayhem, a health inspector made a surprise visit and issued an order that causes the sisters to break out in song and dance as they proclaim, "We’ve Got to Clean Out the Freezer."

A veteran of the Pine Hills stage (this is her 39th appearance here in 23 years), Keresztury belts out a terrific version of "Turn Up the Spotlight," just before taking a hefty sniff of a strange substance found in the girls’ locker room. Keresztury plays it for all its worth, enjoying the effects both on and off stage.

Goggin’s songs are catchy but nothing to make the list of Top Ten of Broadway tunes, much to the chagrin of this cast.

The talented actors, each with an outstanding vocal range, are under the tutelage of music director Better Gorton and accompanist Terese Richardson.

James R. Nadeau may have had a more difficult task as choreographer. But the nuns are keeping in step, for the most part.

Lewis, as Sister Mary Leo, shines in the spotlight when she ties on her toe shoes to dance to "Soup’s On," also known as "The Dying Nun Ballet."

Van Cleve, as Sister Mary Hubert, leads the cast in a fast-paced "Holier Than Thou" routine. Van Cleve is a definite plus to any role she undertakes.

And in this show she has the added pleasure of once again performing with her daughter, Alayne Lewis. Van Cleve and Lewis previously appeared together in "Big River" on the Pine Hills stage.

Hansen plays Sister Mary Amnesia, a name that is self-explanatory for this character. She showed up at the convent one day and all she could remember was being hit in the head by a crucifix. Although her memory is at a loss, the sister exhibits some recollection in the song, "I Could’ve Gone to Nashville."

Hansen has a contagious smile that stays with her throughout the entire play.

Kobs never misses a beat as Sister Robert Anne, the street-wise nun who relates well to her students because she "speaks the same language." Mother Superior assumes Sister Robert is street wise because she knows her way around the town. And because of that, Sister Robert is the convent’s chauffeur. She likes to brag she can strip the car as fast as she can drive it.

Kobs, Hansen and Lewis are a hoot when they jump into a makeshift car for "The Drive-in" number.

This play definitely deserves an A+ for its incredible cast. It will keep you laughing all the way home, and then some.

Pine Hills Lodge & Dinner Theatre is located at 2960 La Posado Way, Julian. Dinner is served in the lodge at 6 p.m. with the curtain at 8, Saturdays through June 12. Tickets are $41 for adults; show alone $22 and $35 for children. Call (760) 765-1100 for reservations and more information.