Sister Amnesia offers a snack to her Jewish friend, Howard Liszt; bagels covered with chains and padlocks. Yes, bagels and locks. Howard is gracious. It’s bagels and lox, he corrects her. You know, smoked fish. Sister Amnesia asks, “You smoke fish?”
Are you groaning, or smiling? Let your answer be the clue as to whenever you’re ready for another evening of “Nunsense” this time “Meshuggah-Nuns, an ecumenical frolic in which the Little Sisters of Hoboken and a Jewish actor find the commonalities of faith and humor.
“Meshuggah-Nuns” is the fifth time creator Dan Goggins has pumped air into his lightweight characters, who find themselves on the “Faiths of All Nations” cruise ship. “Fiddler On the Roof” is canceled after seasickness wipes out the cast – except for Howard, who was to play Tevye. So the nuns put on a variety show with him. What follows is a trademark “Nunsense”, a little threadbare but laced with borscht-belt one-liners, camp and song. Dan’s humors always have been about turning sacred cows into corned beef – heavy on the corn and hold the wry. He gives that formula a kosher stamp this time, such as when Howard reminisces that his first acting job was as a Jewish husband in a third-grade classroom play. “You go back,” his mother scolds, “and tell them to give you a speaking role.”
In the spirit of ecumenism Howard and the Sisters find that one thing they share is guilt. “Contrition” takes the place of “Tradition”. And Sister Robert Anne discovers another commonality with Howard – they’re from Brooklyn. Brooklyn?! “Fuhgeddaboutit!’
The cast includes Sister Mary Regina (Reverend Mother), played by Cindy Bennett; Sister Mary Hubert, played by Nancy Sloss; Sister Robert Anne, played by Darcy Wilson; Sister Mary Paul (Amnesia), played by Sara Slep and Howard Liszt, played by Steve Helsel. The show is being directed by Ed Kuhstos and music directed by Brett Keith.
The Little Sisters of Hoboken and Howard will be appearing in Dinner Theater on August 11 and 12 at the Tyrone American Legion. Dinner will begin to be served at 6:30 p.m. Tickets may be reserved by calling 684-2782.
