Nunsense. Music, lyrics and most of the dialogue by Dan Goggin. G-String Productions at Teatro Vivaldi Theatre Restaurant, ANU Arts Centre, directed by Rod Beaver. December 8, 10, 14, 16, 17 and 19 at 6.30 for 7pm. Dinner and show $49. Bookings 6257 2718.
2004 is the 20th anniversary of this wacky American off-Broadway musical. Still popular over there, it's a good choice by G-String for a pre-Christmas fun night with a bunch of nuns. Fortunately the food at Vivaldi's is way above the class of the convent cook, Sr Julia. "Out of respect for the recently departed Little Sisters of Hoboken, vichyssoise will not be offered on this evening's menu" since the Sister's soup killed 52. The few survivors, who by chance were at bingo that night, entertain us in the hope of raising enough money to bury the last 4 bodies, currently at rest in the kitchen freezer.
The team of 5 women - Kylie Butler (Reverend Mother), Renay Hart (Sr Mary Hubert), Liz Beaver (Sr Robert Anne), Megan Simpson (Sr Mary Amnesia) and Rebecca Franks (Sr Mary Leo) - are a great ensemble, singing, dancing, telling jokes and stories, and gossipping along with excellent pianist Lachlan Cotter. Though very evenly matched I would give a little extra for Hart's voice, especially in the final swinging gospel number, and for Simpson's very surprising puppet.
You don't need to be Catholic to appreciate the jokes, especially ones like the clock with the 12 apostles. Like any good theatre restaurant, the close relationship between the performers spilling off a tiny stage and a relaxed well-fed audience is a bonus.
But at Vivaldi's the arrangement of the stage and seating made for difficult audio balancing. The piano was too often over the top of the miked performers, making their words hard to pick up clearly, while at the far end some performers' voices were too soft. This requires a more complex sound system than only 2 widely spaced speakers, and occasionally the director might have to sit on the pianist. This could easily be incorporated into the show, which already contains a hilarious multi-media segment not imagined by the author.
Make sure you book for excellent fare, real and theatrical.
© Frank McKone, Canberra
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