West L.A. resident Kristin Towers Rowles is a remarkable stage actress/singer who has been proving her additional talent as a director in theaters all around Los Angeles. Her latest directorial endeavor, the musical comedy “Nunsense” by Dan Goggin at Crown City Theater, proves she is also a whiz at knowing how to put together a perfect cast who can act/sing/dance to extraordinary heights. I guarantee you will not stop laughing from start to finish.
The musical begins when the Little Sisters of Hoboken discover that their cook, Sister Julia, Child of God, has accidentally poisoned 52 of the sisters, and now they are in dire need of funds for the burials of the last 4 sisters still on ice in the church freezer. The sisters decide that the best way to raise the money is to put on a variety show, so they take over the school auditorium, which is currently set up for the eighth-grade production of “Grease,” complete with jukebox that the nuns often kick to get started.
Their real accompanist in this production is Musical Director William A. Reilly (also produces) on keyboard, who often speaks directly with the nuns during the show just as the nuns often do with audience members.
The five nuns putting on the show include Reverend Mother Regina (Michelle Holmes), a former circus performer; Sister Mary Hubert (Lizzie Charlton), the Mistress of Novices; a streetwise nun from Brooklyn named Sister Robert Anne (Lisa Dyson); Sister Mary Leo (Shayna Gabrielle), a novice who is a wannabe ballerina; and the delightfully wacky Sister Mary Amnesia (Kelley Dorney), the nun who lost her memory when a crucifix fell on her head.
Each of the five nuns is presented as a very unique character with the actresses’ individual work, as well as every ensemble number, performed to perfection. Holmes’ Reverend Mother Regina is a clicker wielding power monger, set in her ways until a forbidden bottle found in the girls’ locker room takes her on a most memorable – and comical – head-trip. She proves the way to heaven is to raise a little hell.
If not announced before the show began, I would never have guessed Charlton was a swing cast member going on for the first time as Sister Mary Hubert since her performance was just as impeccable as the other four actresses in the show. She never missed a step of the complicated choreography or one note of harmony.
I especially enjoyed Dorsey’s Sister Mary Amnesia performance, often being the last one offstage, pulled from behind a curtain in perfect timing with the music to end song selections. She also had a lot of fun singing with a puppet nun Sister Mary Annette, which kept the audience in stitches. Her excellent improvisation while handing out Saint Christopher’s Motorist’s Prayer Cards to members of the audience was riotous fun, and I am glad when she called on me that I knew the correct answer to win one!
Gabrielle is an accomplished ballerina, making novice Sister Mary Leo’s dream career all the more real with every step. Dyson’s Sister Robert Anne seems to be the odd nun out, so to speak, always a follower and never destined to lead anyone anywhere. Her comic timing during her solo numbers sold each number as if she was really unable to follow her train of thought.
“Nunsense” features very adult humor with many references to current media darlings from stage, screen, television and music as the butt of many jokes. Each of the nuns performs a star turn, not only with their wonderful harmonies and improvisational skills, but also for their ability to perform all types of dancing including ballet and tap (as they tackle temptation with a time step). There are many comic surprises I won’t spoil, just be ready to interact with the nuns as they cavort with the audience during a hysterical quiz. No doubt the incredible humor in the show has allowed it to become an international phenomenon with more than 5,000 productions worldwide, translated into 21 languages.
Rounds of applause are due to director Towers Rowles and choreographer Lisaun Whittingham (with asst. Michael Marchak), as well as musical director Reilly for their outstanding cooperative teamwork in creating musical numbers that are comical and poignant, with perfect harmony throughout. Costume Designer Tanya Apuya goes well beyond just the habits with outrageously colorful accent pieces including shoes of every color as well as a Carmen Miranda headdress of fruit. You will never know what to expect with each successive number.
Running Dec 10 to Jan. 17 (with possible extension) on Friday, Saturday at 8 p.m., and Sunday at 3 p.m. at Crown City Theater, 11031 Camarillo St., North Hollywood.