FUNNY HABITS

When the Little Sisters of Hoboken discover that their cook, Sister Julia, Child of God, has accidentally poisoned 52 sisters, they need to raise funds for their burials. They decide that the best way is to stage a variety show. They take over the school auditorium, set up for the eighth grade production of “Grease.” 

With star turns, tap and ballet dancing, an audience quiz, and comic surprises, “Nunsense” has become an international phenomenon. It’s been translated into 21 languages and productions worldwide have passed the 5,000 mark.

Dan Goggin, who wrote the book, lyrics, music and directed the original production told the New York Times that many of the nuns who had taught him at school “were funny people. I only recall one who was in any way severe. “Every nun in the show is based on someone I knew growing up. Of all the people coming to the show, the greatest fans are priests and nuns.”

Now, Bangkok Community Theatre (BCT), Thailand’s longest-running producer of English-language theatre, is bringing this musical comedy to Bangkok, in English of course. 

At the helm is American expat director Michael Allman. “It’s so much fun, I know it’s going to be good for all the five women who are in it. There’s lots of material to work with, and I love doing musicals,” he says.

“In the US, I did shows with all-women casts and I enjoyed working with female actors very much. It’s a different kind of energy. In many plays where there are more parts for male actors, I find the actresses wonderful and a pleasure to work with.”

His cast is led by veteran BCT actress Bonnie Zellerbach (Sister Robert Anne, a streetwise nun from Brooklyn) who is joined by Hannah Watson (Sister Mary Amnesia, the wacky nun who lost her memory when a crucifix fell on her head); Louise Truslow (Reverend Mary Regina, a former circus performer); Nichola Frances (Sister Mary Hubert, the Mistress of Novices) and Noni Upanisakorn (Sister Mary Leo, a novice who is a wannabe ballerina).

This is Allman’s first full-scale theatre production in Bangkok, having staged a small one as part of BCT’s Fringe Festival last year. 

He thinks it will evoke great memories of childhood in expats who attended Catholic schools or go to Catholic churches. “Otherwise, I think it’s just a fun look at Catholic nuns who don’t take themselves too seriously.” 

For the Thai audience, he says, “I hope that they’ll like it. It’s very different from the Buddhist culture. But I think they’ll appreciate the humour and the fun of it — lots of dancing, singing and jokes.”

Allman has made no changes to the directing concept, pointing out that it’s not the kind of show that accepts new concepts very well. “It not like Shakespeare. You pretty much have to do it the way it’s written.

“We started rehearsals in late October. The actors have had a good long time to digest their parts, which is always helpful for musical theatre as there’s so much to learn.”

Allman says the performance will be accompanied by live music, with keyboard, drums and woodwind.

 

   SISTER ACTS

 “Nunsense” will be at The British Club, Silom Soi 18 (10-minute walk from BTS Chong Nonsi), from Thursday to Sunday (February 23 to 26). Showtime is 8pm Thursday to Saturday plus 3pm on Saturday and Sunday. 

 Tickets cost B800 and are available at (087) 936 3798 and by emailing [email protected]. Audiences can also pre-book a dinner buffet (B400 per person) at (02) 234-0247 and [email protected]. 

 Visit www.BCT-TH.org for more details.