Review: 'Nuncrackers' at Seven Angels Theatre

Pictured: Members of the cast of 'Nuncrackers' by Paul Roth

“This show gives a little dash of holiday cheer, a piping cup of smiles, and pinch of chaos.” - director Jimmy Donohue

Waterbury, CT - The Nunsense Christmas Musical, ‘Nuncrackers,’ returns to Seven Angels Theatre in Waterbury to brighten up the holiday season. The musical is a Stage Seven Community Theatre production directed and choreographed by community theatre actor James Donohue and Artistic Director Semina De Laurentis, a woman who has spent a fair amount of time playing Sister Amnesia.

This delightful Christmas extravaganza is presented as the first TV special taped in the WCON-TV Cable Access Studio built by Reverend Mother in the convent basement in Hoboken NJ. It stars the nuns we love, all called Sister Mary Something and played by some of the most talented ladies in community theater, plus the wacky Father Virgil and a gaggle of Mount Saint Helen's most talented students.

The ‘Nuncrackers’ book and lyrics were written by Dan Goggin with musical arrangements by Leo P. Carusone and David Nyberg. The witty songs, all with a Christmas theme, are filled with fun and puns. They include "Twelve Days Prior to Christmas," "Santa Ain't Comin' to Our House," "We Three Kings of Orient Are Us"

The show is of course filled with typical ‘Nunsense’ humor, which is funny for any audience member and hysterical for the Catholics because we get all the jokes. There are also some favorite carols and an improv "Secret Santa" by Marcia Maslo as Sister Mary Paul (Amnesia) with great audience participation. Yes, there are even some appropriately religious gifts to be won.

The requisite Nutcracker ballet had dancers in full habits and made us laugh throughout. The adults sang a nod to the Village People in the number “In the Convent” and there was a full Nativity scene for “Jesus Was Born in Brooklyn.” I especially enjoyed the Sing-a-long that featured lyrics for the chorus on the back of our programs. I also loved the duet by Santa (Tim Cleary) and student Grace Altenburger.

The audience was charmed by every one of the ladies that donned the habit to play these lovable nuns. Michelle Gotay, whose alter ego is WATR personality and ‘Earlene’s Diner’ star Earlene Babcock, was the perfect Reverend Mother Sister Mary Regina or as she is affectionately called by the nun from Brooklyn "Rev." Ms. Gotay was a riot as she attempted to rein in her charges and she easily added some improvisational sass to the character. Although a part of me missed getting to see Earlene up on the 7A stage at Christmas, I thoroughly enjoyed seeing this versatile actress’ antics in a habit.

Cathy Wilcox-Sturmer returned to the stage to play her favorite sassy nun, the aforementioned one from Brooklyn, Sr. Robert Anne. This marks the actress’ twelfth regional ‘Nunsense’ production and she had a “habit” of making us laugh. Cat Heidel made her 7A debut in the role of Sr. Mary Hubert as she continues her quest to perform in every version of ‘Nunsense;’ this production marks number 5. She was perfectly cast as Sister Hubert and wow, did she sing well “It's Better to Give Than To Receive.”

Marcia Maslo, another veteran “nun” in a sense, was both endearing and clueless as Amnesia and reminded me of another 7A actress who had played this role. Her interaction with the audience was priceless and will undoubtedly be different in every performance. Tom Chute reprised the role of Father Virgil Trott and I couldn’t stop laughing at his antics. He had to cover for the cook, Sister Julia Child of God (sign of the cross,) to demonstrate her recipe for fruit cake and the comedy ensued. The WATR 1320 AM host also showed off his wonderful singing voice in his solo "The Christmas Box." He and his radio colleague Ms. Gotay repeatedly cracked each other up during the on-air segment in which they promoted Catholic-themed Christmas gifts. Fellow WATR listeners were out in force to support the King of Culture and we probably laughed the loudest.

The Catholic school students were played by local young actors and everyone did a great job with the required singing and dancing, all while looking quite adorable in their school uniforms. They were memorable in the tiny segments that played on words of familiar Christmas carols, lyrics which young children have most likely misheard long before Sr. Amnesia. The students in various grades at Mount Saint Helen’s included the always spectacular Grace Altenburger, other Blessed Sacrament School Children’s Theatre alums Julia Mehlin (an eighth grader at WAMS,) Michael Meier, and Gabrielle Saucier, as well as Angelina Emanuel (last year’s ‘Christmas Carol at Earlene’s Diner,’) Ian Kindt, 7A darling Zoe Kindt, Zachary Petrarca, Julia Thies (‘Christmas Eve at Earlene’s Diner’) and Nicole Thomas (in her sixth production at 7A.)

James “Buzz the radio intern” Donohue did fine work with Semina De Laurentis as director/choreographer of this wacky gang from Hoboken. Mr. Donohue notes in his director’s letter that these wisecracking nuns have been appearing at Seven Angels for the last 27 years, bringing laughter and joy with their fun-filled musicals and this year is no exception.

Music director TJ Thompson conducted the musicians and mastered the piano as usual. Mark Ryan, fresh from being onstage for ‘MDQ’ at 7A, played drums. Sean Lewis and Jonathan Barney played synth. I also spotted John Dressel in the pit on opening night. The scenic design by Daniel Husvar featured lots of colorful Christmas lights and Matt Martin was in charge of sound as he always is. Mr. Donohue took care of costume design and worked with Stephanie Gordner on lighting design. The latter was also Production Manager.

Take note that the evening performances begin at a family friendly 7:30pm and matinees are at 2:00pm. Santa remains in the lobby after the show to meet the kids and pose for photos.