Theater Review: 'Meshuggah-Nuns, The Ecumenical Nunsense'

Review by Nancy Sasso Janis

“Meshuggah-Nuns, The Ecumenical Nunsense” is another show in the “Nunsense” series with book, music, and lyrics by Dan Goggin, and orchestration by Leo P. Carusone, Director of Theatre at my alma mater, Sacred Heart University. The Arts at Angeloria’s in Southington is inviting audiences to climb aboard the “S.S.Golden Delicious in the ‘Apple of the Eden Line’' that has taken over their unique venue through March 24.

Those wacky nuns are back, this time on a “Faith of All Nations World Cruise.” Four of the beloved nuns are on the cruise, with a professional actor/singer who was to appear as Tevye in the ship’s production of “Fiddler on the Roof.” The silliness is punctuated with clever songs like “Contrition (A Song of Guilt)” and “The Potchky Polka”, “Three Shayna Maidels” and “Matzo Man.”

Peter Weidt worked hard in his first venture in directing a full musical production, and it shows in the result. The director brought the entire adult cast and production team from the venue’s 2022 production of “Nuncrackers” for this sequel. “Do not worry if you did not see that show, the nuns will bring you up to speed quickly,” he warns.

Music Director Ed Rosenblatt took care of everything musical and appeared on stage as the stalwart ship’s captain. “They’ll perform twenty songs for you, so enjoy them while you laugh at their crazy un-convent-ional comedy!” Rosenblatt has been music directing shows at The Arts at Angeloria’s since the very beginning. Accompanist Bill D’Andrea sat on the stage behind his keyboard in a clerical robe. All of the costumes by Lori Holm were perfect for their characters.

Heidi Bass-Lamberto visibly has fun developing the role of Sister Mary Regina, the Reverend Mother of the Nuncracker nuns. She says that “being called "Rev "never grows old.

The venue’s artistic director Lori Holm, whose day job is as teacher/coordinator of a gifted program, takes to the stage to play Sister Mary Paul, the ditsy Amnesia. She is happy to revisit the character of Sister Amnesia for whom she feels a special kinship and she manages to do it with a smile on her face despite her ankle recovery. The show’s producer said of this show: “Its open and humorous approach to exploring two faiths in such an honest, accepting manner is a good reminder for all of us that many of the world’s problems can be solved by removing ignorance and being open-minded.”.

Jennifer Passaretti slays the role of Sister Robert Anne, a streetwise nun from Brooklyn, New York. Passaretti played this role in “Nuncrackers: Nunsense the Christmas Musical.” It is a blessing that she gets to show off her talent in “I’ll Find A Song To Sing”

Leann Crosby is a delight in the role of Sister Hubert, the second in command to the Reverend Mother. Crosby, an APRN overnight, played this role in “Nuncrackers.”

Tony Lamberto, who was fabulous in the role of Kris Kringle in “Miracle of 34th Street” on this stage, plays Howard Liszt (formerly Lishinsky.) He played Father Virgil aka Sister Julia in “Nuncrackers” and is grateful to Rosenblatt for working with him on both music and Yiddish.
The director points out that the script has more in common with the variety shows of the 60’s and 70’s than it does to “The Sound of Music” and “Fiddler on the Roof,” but listen for homages to the latter sprinkled throughout the show.

Technical direction by Larch Purinton works well for this intimate space. Backstage, Stage Manager Shelly Campbell efficiently managed “to keep a million props, a thousand emails, a hundred costume accessories, and a bunch of crazy characters well organized.” Choreographer Liz Wood (“Miracle on 34th Street”) kept the dancing cute and in sync.

The team that was in charge of Set Design/Construction/Props produced some great results that propel the goofy action.

Be on the listen for some ship board announcements during pre-show and intermission. These announcements will surely put you in the cruising experience and hopefully bring you a laugh or two. The printed program contains a handy glossary of both Yiddish, Catholic and Portuguese phrases, lyrics to the chorus of “Fiddlerspiel,” as well as a QR code to the full program. Be prepared to laugh your way through the two acts of wacky fun.

Some tickets remain for the closing weekend. TICKETS: angelorias.ludus.com

Nancy Sasso Janis has been writing theater reviews since 2012 as a way to support local venues, and she posts well over 100 reviews each year. She became a member of the Connecticut Critics Circle in 2016. Her contributions of theatrical reviews, previews, and audition notices are posted in the Naugatuck Patch as well as the Patch sites closest to the venue. She is also a feature writer and theater reviewer for the Waterbury Republican-American newspaper. Her weekly column IN THE WINGS and theater reviews appear in the Thursday Weekend section of the newspaper.

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