Le Petit opens season 76 with more ‘Nunsense’

Le Petit Theatre de Terrebonne brings the beloved Little Sisters of Hoboken back to the stage for the theatre’s 76th season premiere in another of Dan Goggin’s nunsensical shows, “Nunset Boulevard.”

Director Karen Schilling says the musical will feature everything people have come to expect from a Goggin show, with the easily recognized, hilarious characters and plot. This particular Nunsense production takes the sisters across the country.

“They get very involved wondering about the Hollywood scene and how it may affect them,” Schilling said.

“Boulevard” is the seventh show of the Nunsense series in which the Little Sisters of Hoboken have been invited to sing at the Hollywood Bowl. As the sisters hit the road they are thrilled at the prospect until they arrive, they realize that they are instead booked at the Hollywood Bowl-A-Rama, a bowling alley with a cabaret lounge, and things go awry. 

The sisters hear that the famed movie producer, James Todd, is across the street auditioning for roles in his new movie musical, “Nunset Boulevard: A Song from the Hart,” about the life of Dolores Hart, the real-life famous movie star who became a nun. 

“Dolores Hart was not like the typical little starlet at the time in real life,” Schilling said. “She kind of pulled back and wondered if she really wanted that kind of life. So, she took a retreat to Bethlehem, Conn. She went to a convent and from there she decided that she wanted to be a nun.”

The Sisters, thinking they are perfect for the role, rush to audition during their Bowl-A-Rama show’s intermission.

“So a lot of the plot as you can envision is about them going and getting all enamored with the Hollywood business and everything, wondering ‘Am I good enough to make it?’” Schilling said.

All the characters from the original show have returned in full force.

Jeanne Scott, once again plays Mother Superior Mary Regina.

“I’ve been in five out of the seven shows,” Scott said. “I love to revive this character. She is one of my favorites that I’ve ever done.”

The role is an emotional one for Scott because of her true attachment to the character, she said. Mother Superior was a former circus performer who cannot resist the spotlight. Even though she loved show business, she chose to be a nun.

“There is a number in this show called ‘There Was a Time’ that has a double meaning for me and it’s very emotional,” Scott said. “Since I’ve been performing all these years, and I’ve done this show so many times, and other shows on this stage, I’ve had some of the major roles in my life, prime roles. I’m getting on, you know; I’m 77 now. Thinking back to all these roles I’ve done, that star has been on my door. I’m not bragging or anything, but I had the privilege to play all those people. I know one day my star is going to come off that door. That’s what’s hitting me. It’s the reality of where I am in life and knowing that one day I will have to stop doing something that I love. I just hope I can get through it without crying because it is such a beautiful song. I’m having a ball with everything else.”

Debra Gorr also reprises her role as Mother Superior’s competitive second-in-command, Sister Mary Hubert.

“I guess it’s okay to be second in command; It’s better than being last,” Gorr said. “Even though she’s second, she still seems to be the go-to person. She feels like she can help everybody even though it’s not completely her responsibility, she takes ownership of that.”

Ginny Hamilton will once again play Sister Robert Anne, a streetwise nun from Brooklyn. Hamilton said Robert Anne is trading in her sometimes-selfish ways to encourage Sister Leo.

“In this show, she is not so much about herself being the star, but about Leo being the star and she sings about Leo making it,” Hamilton said. “Of course, she compares Sister Leo to herself, saying she’s got the drive, etc., ‘just like me.’ Robert Ann has always had that really selfish star side, but in this one you really see her pass it on and show that she really wants it for Leo.”

Sister Mary Leo, played by Kim Champagne, is the newest member of the order “discovered” in Tinseltown.

“She’s so pleasant,” Champagne said. “She dreams big, and she’s an optimist. I strive to be more of an optimist in my own life.”

Sue Peace reprises Sister Mary Amnesia, who lost her memory when a crucifix fell on her head in the original “Nunsense” and remembered her identity at the show’s conclusion.

It’s some of the Amnesia antics from the original show that are always my favorite,” Peace said. “When we did the first show I was able to build Amnesia. She went from being this naive and around the third or fourth show she became a little more devious. Now Dan Goggin has brought her back to that. I personally think she’s getting older. With age she’s going back to her childlike ways and becoming more naive again.”

Schilling said she’s happy to have the sisters back together.

“Sister Marionette even makes an appearance, but the Reverend Mother puts her in her place,” Schilling said.

Gorr said she is excited to rekindle her bond with the Little Sisters of Hoboken.

“I’m glad to be with everyone again. This is true sisterhood,” Gorr said.

– kami@gumboguide.com