'Nunsensations! The Nunsense Vegas Review'

Thursday, November 9, 2006

By Charles C. Nash

Special to the Daily Mail

Before the original "Nunsense" opened, some 18 years ago, at the now-defunct Red Door Playhouse, there was some trepidation about how the musical, which pokes fun at several fictional Catholic nuns, would be received by ordinary church-going Nevadans. But not to worry! The show didn't have a mean bone in its body. In fact, one of the town's Catholic priests, after seeing it here, used the show as the subject of his Sunday sermon, then highly recommended it to his parishioners.

Not only was the first in the series of Dan Goggin's "Nunsense" shows a big hit, these latter-day Andrews Sisters -- played by Linda Davidson, Shanna Johnson, Sonja Wells, Edi Gragg, and Falena Vittetoe-Eaton -- developed a cameraderie (or should I say sisterhood) that has lasted to this very day, when, on another of their innumerable money-raising missions (this one to Las Vegas), all the same sisters (except for Falena, who moved out of town, and Tracye Moore, who plays a strong Sister Mary Leo), are back again, for a reunion (Whew, what a sentence!). And they've invited all of you to check on their progress after all these years!

The show will be presented at the Fox Playhouse, 110 South Main, on Thursday, Friday, and Saturday, Nov. 9, 10, and 11, at 8 p.m., and on Saturday afternoon, Nov. 12, at 2 o'clock.

"Nunsense" has become a kind of musical-comedy industry since its fresh first appearance all those many years ago. In the intervening years, we've had a variety of Nunsense clones, but unless this reviewer has developed a tin ear, I don't hear any retreads in this show's musical numbers. In fact, the most hilarious and original song in the whole show is "Cirque de Blimp," which, fittingly, brings down the curtain on Act One. There's nothing even remotely like it in the original "Nunsense."

Wife Ginny told me, last night, that she thinks the composer, Dan Groggin, has a particular gift for harmony, and I'm very inclined to agree, based on several of this show's numbers.

All the sisters always were an ensemble, harmonizing satisfyingly. That self-confidence is especially evident in this new show's numbers. They act and sing as a high-luster team. Smooth! To be especially noted, I think, is the development of Shanna Johnson's voice, which, in the original "Nunsense," was appealing but a tad on the delicate side. In this great-granddaughter of the original show, however, her voice has developed a maturity and strength that is truly remarkable. Miraculous! And Linda Davidson once again blithely comes through, as Nevada theater-goers have grown to expect her to come through, as Sister Mary Regina, the Mother Superior, who leads her female charges vibrantly through thick-and-thin in Sin City.

Spin-off products very seldom match the quality of the original, but "Nunsensations! The Nunsense Vegas Review" is easy on the eye and ear. You'll seldom find a better deal for your $6. Go see it; you won't be sorry.