'Nuncrackers' at the Phoenix Stage Company - My Review

The Nunsense Christmas Musical, NUNCRACKERS, is presented as the first TV special taped in the Cable Access Studio built by Reverend Mother (Colleen Renzulo) in the convent basement. It stars the nuns we love, all called Sister Mary Something and played by some of the most talented ladies in community theater, plus Father Virgil (Daniel R. Willey) and five of Mount Saint Helen’s most talented students, adorably played by five young actors.

So there are the requisite witty songs written by Dan Goggin, all with a Christmas theme. They include "Twelve Days Prior to Christmas," "Santa Ain’t Comin’ to Our House," "We Three Kings of Orient Are Us" and "It’s Better to Give than to Receive." 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 to be sung with cue cards and an improv “Secret Santa” by Deb Forish as Sister Mary Paul (Amnesia) with great audience participation. Yes, there are even some appropriately religious gifts to be won and I got to take mine home from the final dress rehearsal that I attended. The test audience laughed throughout the two hours and at times we couldn't stop.

I can't say enough about the ladies that donned the habit to play these lovable nuns. Ms. Renzullo, who played another nun in Drinking Habits at the PSC in 2011, is the perfect staunch Sister Mary Regina or as she is affectionately called by the nun from Brooklyn "Rev."  Donna Storms has a talent for playing funny nuns and here is no exception. The surprise for me was the amazing gospel number at the end of the second act that she pulled off.

Kathy Cook is such a talented comic actress and she is the perfect Sister Robert Anne from Brooklyn. A self-described charter member of the "Chubby Nun Brigade," she is spot on in this production. Ms. Forish, who was last seen as Gaynelle in The Red Velvet Cake War, is both endearing and clueless as Amnesia. Her interaction with the audience was priceless and will undoubtedly be different in every performance. The lovely Marsha Gaylord once again has to walk with a limp (as she did in the PSC's The Glass Menagerie) after Sister Mary Leo takes a spill backstage.

The brave Mr. Willey has appeared in many PSC plays and here he attacks the role of Father Virgil Manly Trott and even has to cover for Sister Julia Child of God. The latter was absolutely the funniest part of the show for me. He displays a wonderful singing voice in his solo "The Christmas Box."

The Catholic school students are played by local young actors and all did a great job with the required singing and dancing, all while looking quite adorable in their school uniforms. Benjamin Dressel makes his PSC debut with his dad the Musical Director.  Jimmy Ayash is a fourth grader at Western School and will appear in the upcoming Wizard of Oz at Naugatuck High School in Feb. 2014. Victoria Gagas attends Memorial Middle School and has performed with Curtain Call Kids.  Nicole Bregman (a Maple Hill School alum) makes her PSC debut, but has five productions at the Squarefoot Theatre in Hamden to her credit. Kasia Deptula is a fifth grade student at Hillside and appeared in Annie and Beauty and the Beast at Western School.

The Running Crew of one is Deb Cryan and she is a busy lady. The talented Music Director John Dressel is hidden onstage and his keyboard was appropriately amplified for the space. The mark of director Ed Bassett was all over the bits in the show. Sharon A. Wilcox added just enough choreography. Mr. Bassett designed the set that is well lit by Al Hathway and John Forish served as the scenic artist. The numerous props were assembled by Stage Manager Lori Poulin and the director and yes, there are feather boas. The religious garb was designed by Renee Purdy.