Published: July 17, 2009 08:21 am      

Actors to perform a bit of 'Nunsense'

A gaggle of funny nuns will keep audiences laughing at the Beef House banquet center for the 13th annual Beef House summer musical.

The banquet center will be transformed into a theater for performances by funny local ladies who play the musical’s main characters.

The story follows the Little Sisters of Hoboken who discover that their cook, Sister Julia, Child of God, inadvertently poisoned to death 52 fellow nuns. To raise money for the burials, the sisters decide to put on a variety show at the high school auditorium, which had been set for the student production of “Grease.”

“It’s just the funniest thing you’ll ever see,” said David Woodrow, who co-directs the show with his wife, Jennifer.

The show has been in Danville a couple times before, he said, but the show makes its premier at the Beef House for the first time this summer.

The Beef House has produced musicals for the last 13 years, but “Nunsense” is the longest-running production so far.

The weeks leading up to the production get hectic, but long-time crew members make the shows a success every year, Woodrow said. He credits Tom Fricke for lighting and set design. Gary Lickfett also designs sets. Jenny Taylor is in charge of sound. Kevin Latoz is the group’s piano accompanist and the band is made up of four musicians, he said.

A total group of about 15 make the shows happen, Woodrow said.

In addition, about 19 local high school and college-age students help with the dinner.

“The patrons know them and tip pretty well,” he added.

“Nunsense” is known for its comedy; it’s been translated into 21 languages and boasts 5,000 productions worldwide.

The Woodrows hand-picked their cast members instead of holding auditions.

“We invite people to come and perform. Usually you get a couple of your first choices and a few people who can’t and say they’d like to,” he said.

“I got all my first choices right off the bat. They were all ready to do it and willing to do it. It’s a dream cast.”

Among his top picks is Nancy Henderson — also a costume designer, who’s played the role of Sister Mary Amnesia three other times in “Nunsense” and its two sequels. Henderson says Amnesia typically gets plenty of laughs.

“She does funny things in an innocent way.”

Henderson said several people who saw her play the character for the first time many years ago were amazed because it’s different from characters she typically plays.

“I was surprised at how quickly some of the stuff came back to me,” she said.

Some of the audience members who love the play the most are Catholics, she said.

“The guy who wrote (the plays) grew up in Catholic schools and he pulled out ideas from all the different nuns he knew. He put them into these characters,” she said.

“Usually the Catholics laugh the most. They can see the humor in the characters. The premise is outlandish, but that’s why makes it funny.”

The show is appropriate for all ages.

“It’s the kind of slapstick humor that would be funny to everyone and has a little more sophisticated humor for all ages,” she said.

Those who haven’t been to the Beef House Dinner Theater will be amazed at the banquet room’s transformation, she added.

“The seating is tiered so that everybody can see really well. Nothing is going to block the view or anything like that. It’s a bargain Beef House meal,” she said.

Other cast members include Jennifer Woodrow as Reverend Mother Mary Regina; Carolyn Smith as Sister Mary Hubert; Erin Halls as Sister Robert Anne; and Rachel Bein as Sister Mary Leo.



COMING UP

The Beef House Dinner Theatre presents its 2009 musical “Nunsense” beginning next weekend. Doors open at 6 p.m. EDT July 24-25, 31 and Aug 1, 7-8 for evening shows. Doors open at noon EDTJuly 26, 29-30 and Aug. 2 and 9 for matinee performances. Reservations should be made and paid in advance. All seats are $34 and include the price of the buffet, salad, dessert, beverage and the show admission. Nunsense is directed by David and Jennifer Woodrow and choreographed by Meritt Spicer. Reservations can be made by calling (765) 793-4770.