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WEYAUWEGA, Wis. (WFRV) – Right here’s a particular theatrical equation: Religion + humor = “Nunsense.”
That magical combine is particularly taking place on the Gerold Opera Home as The Waupaca Neighborhood Theatre unleashes “Nuncrackers: The Nunsense Christmas Musical” in 4 performances.
The present is certainly one of a collection by creator Dan Goggin a couple of fictional order of Roman Catholic nuns who at all times appear to be placing on a present. This one is as if the nuns are stars of their very own in a cable entry TV present. That’s one thing that hardly exists anymore, however the vote consequence from opening evening Thursday doubtless could be “Who cares? That is enjoyable!”
Singing nuns. Dancing nuns. Puppets. Children within the forged. Goofy costumes. Groaner puns. Classes in dwelling. A broad band of humor types. A dwell orchestra with gamers dressed as sisters (in nun veils) and a brother. Authentic songs. Sing-alongs. Little quizies. Huge laughs. Delicate stuff. Holy cow, this present is packed.
There’s even a TV set displaying the motion on stage from an in-house digicam that’s a part of the phantasm of a TV present taking place.
The Waupaca Neighborhood Theatre challenge is spectacular – large and elaborate and brimming with expertise. The skilled forged clicks as co-director/choreographers Liz Kelley and Linda Trepasso let their imaginations fly. Highlights:
+ A re-creation of “The Nutcracker Ballet” – full story however fractured. Reverend Mom (Lori Zelinske) dances in a puffy pink skirt whereas Father Virgil (Dean Sondrol) tries to hog the eye due to this different spotlight:
+ Dressed and talking in a squeaky voice as Julia Baby of God (a tease of beloved chef Julia Baby), Father Virgil makes a recipe for Christmas fruitcake with rum that he nips… and nips… and nips – and winds up crazy.
+ A “Secret Santa” routine with Sister Mary Paul – Sister Amnesia (Kira Morrissey) quizzing randomly chosen viewers members on catechism-like issues. One prize is a stick-on Ten Commandments set. “Should you don’t like one (commandment),” Sister Amnesia advises, “you may simply take it and throw it away.” Kira Morrissey has a present for spontaneous interaction with folks – like she’s a pure at it.
+ Bits with hand puppets (customized made), full with voicing and singing.
+ “Santa’s Little Teapot,” a quaint music sung by the 5 children who put on physique boards which can be elements of a teapot… that percolates. The youth are as attuned to the humor and motion because the adults.
+ Luster in voices in story-songs, together with by Lori Zelinske (Mom Superior) in “A Carnival Christmas,” Lori Bauer (Sister Robert Anne) in “Jesus Was Born in Brooklyn” and Carmen Riebel (Sister Mary Hubert) within the rousing, bluesy message-filled finale “It’s Higher to Give.”
+ Malaprops by Sister Amnesia (Kira Morrissey), who frequently comes out with props and the children singing carols with the mistaken phrases. For one, “The Waffle Music” (with prop waffles on sticks) as an alternative of “The Wassail Music.”
+ Messages. Creator Dan Goggin – who makes his reveals all-original – at all times weaves in layers of heat and kindness. That goes further for this Christmas present.
The theater, which was stuffed Thursday evening, was abuzz from the beginning. I believe a part of that was the journey of being within the historic Gerold Opera Home.
Yet one more story: Years in the past – final century, 1997 – I had the chance to interview Dan Goggin in affiliation with a manufacturing of “Nunsense II” within the Inexperienced Bay space. “The characters are primarily based on 5 actual nuns who know who they’re and in addition are enormous followers of the present,” he mentioned. “It’s primarily based on their senses of humor and the way they’d cope with a few of these loopy predicaments. It’s very a lot actual life. It’s not parody. It’s the humorous aspect of nuns as I noticed them and grew up with them.”
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Working time: Two hours, 18 minutes
Remaining performances: 7 p.m. Dec. 10-11 and a pair of p.m. Dec. 12
Information: fineartsfestival.org
Be aware: Masks are required of viewers members resulting from COVID-19 issues.
Artistic: E-book, music and lyrics – Dan Goggin; co-directors – Liz Kelley and Linda Trepasso; music coordinator/conductor – Linda Trepasso; choreography – Liz Kelley and Linda Trepasso; rehearsal accompanist – Wanda Eikenbary; set development – Marcel Van Camp; sound and lighting design – John Kelley, Eric Conner and Ian Teal; costuming – Gretchen Kelley; puppet development – John Kelley; artwork design – Lily Zabler; sound and lighting techs – Holly Saunders and Spencer Sondrol; highlight – Hannah Kelley
Forged:
Sister Mary Regina, Reverend Mom – Lori Zelinske
Sister Mary Hubert – Carmen Riebel
Sister Robert Anne – Lori Bauer
Sister Mary Paul A.KA. Amnesia – Kira Morrissey
Father Virgil Manly Trot – Dean Sondrol
Sister Mary Leo – Kay Ellingson
Digicam Operator – Gracie Liegl
Mount Saint Helen’s College students
Louise Mayfield – Isabella Saunders
Maria Montini – Keira Konkol
Billy Wilson – Emmett Danielson
Jamie Kelly – Allison Landre
Katie Peterson – Lili Liegl
Orchestra: Linda Trepasso (conductor), Wanda Eikenbary (piano), Emily Sipiorski (violin), Emily Block (keyboards), John Kelley (drums and percussion)
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Musical numbers
Act I
“Christmas Time is Nunsense Time” – Reverend Mom, Sisters Hubert, Robert Anne, Amnesia, Leo and Father Virgil
“Pleasure to the World (The Cat’s Away)” – College students
“Santa’s Little Teapot” – College students
“Twelve Days Previous to Christmas” – Sister Mary Annette (Robert Anne) with Sisters Hubert and Amnesia and Father Virgil
“The Christmas Field” – Father Virgil
“Santa Ain’t Comin’ to Our Home” – Sister Amnesia with Sisters Hubert and Robert Anne and Father Virgil
“The Wassail Music” – Sister Amnesia and College students
“A Carnival Christmas” – Reverend Mom
“The Holly and the Ivy” – Sister Amnesia and College students
“The Nutcracker Ballet” – The Little Hallelujah Orchestra of Hoboken
Act II
“Three Hundred Sixty-4 Days” – Reverend Mom, Sisters Hurbert, Robert Anne and Amnesia
“Jesus Was Born in Brooklyn” – Sister Robert Ann, with Sisters Hubert and Amnesia, Father Virgil and College students
“Within the Convent” – Reverend Mom, Sisters Hubert, Robert Ann and Amnesia
“The Three Kings” – Sisters Hubert, Robert Ann and Amnesia
“The First Noel” – Sister Amnesia and College students
“All I Need for Christmas” – Sister Robert Anne
“Christmas Sing Alongside” – Sisters Hubert, Robert Ann, Amnesia and Leo, Father Virgil, College students and viewers
“A Model New College” – Reverend Mom, Sisters Hubert, Robert Ann, Amnesia and Leo and Father Virgil
“It’s Higher to Give” – Sister Hubert with Reverend Mom, Father Virgil, Sisters Robert Ann, Amnesia and Leo and College students
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NEXT: “Love Letters” by A.R. Gurney and “Hate Mail” by Invoice Corbett and Kira Oblensky as dinner theater, Feb. 11-13.
THE VENUE: Situated at 136 E. Major St. in downtown Weyauwega, the Gerold Opera Home was in-built 1915. The constructing has had many lives, and key ones have been as a dwell efficiency venue, film home and gathering place for weddings, dances and auctions. The inside is a spacious corridor for about 250 individuals. The viewers enters by means of the rear proper. Within the rear left is a bar. Within the entrance is a proscenium (flat-front) stage with royal crimson pull curtains. The ground is flat and consisting of fine-quality maple. The partitions are tan fiber board with the look of huge blocks on prime, together with a darkish wooden fringe and darkish crimson under. Alongside the partitions are sections of theater seats of crimson leather-based, with wooden arms and metallic body. The excessive ceiling – about 2½ tales up – is cream coloured and could also be imitation historic patterned tin. The eight ceiling lights are of patterned frosted glass. A balcony on the second stage is fronted by a darkish wooden railing. Some seating is out there. A projection sales space is on the rear.
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