Press: NUNSENSE comes to the Milnerton Playhouse

Capetonians can look forward to enjoying that wacky and outrageous musical “Nunsense” when it shows at the Milnerton Playhouse from 6 to 21 April. Described as:  "A hail of fun and frolic;  Hysterical anything-goes sense of fun”,  Kyla Thorburn directs this hilarious musical comedy for the Milnerton Players.  She has gathered a stellar cast of multi award-winning community actresses to play the roles and bring a highly professional production to the stage. Kyla has directed some of the top G&S productions and is herself recipient of many awards. There are not many people who have not heard of the show ‘Nunsense’. Whether it be as the Off - Broadway musical comedy, the television productions or simply a popular community theatre production, it is a show that is loved and followed. It has even spawned a National Nunsense Day on February 12. The original version ran for 3,672 performances, becoming the second-longest running Off-Broadway show in history and winner of four Outer Critics' Circle Awards including Best Musical. By the time it closed, it had become an international phenomenon translated into at least 26 languages with more than 8,000 productions worldwide.   

And the story goes like this: Five of the 19 surviving Sisters of the Holy Cross Convent, a one-time missionary order that ran a leper colony on an island south of France, discover that their cook, Sister Julia, Child of God, accidentally killed the other fifty-two residents of the convent with her tainted vichyssoise while they were off playing bingo with a group of Maryknolls. Upon discovering the disaster, Mother Superior had a vision in which she was told to start an online, e-card mailing website to raise funds for the burials. This proved to be an enormous success and, thinking there was plenty of money, the Reverend Mother bought a Home Entertainment System with a Samsung, 85 inch LED TV screen for the convent, leaving her with no money in the kitty to pay for the last four burials. With the deceased nuns on ice in the deep freeze, they decide to stage a variety show at the Milnerton Playhouse to raise the necessary amount. Participating in the project are Mother Superior Mary Regina, (Fiona Carling) who cannot resist the spotlight (after all she was a tightrope walker in a previous life);  her competitive but dignified rival, second-in-command Sister Mary Hubert (Fiona Tanner); Sister Robert Anne, (Melissa Sanderson) a streetwise nun; Sister Mary Leo, (Georgina Borros) a novice who is determined to be the world's first ballerina nun; and wacky Sister Mary Amnesia, (Michelle Galloway) who lost her memory when a crucifix fell on her head. The entertainment that they present includes solos, duets, trios, quartets with madcap dance routines, and an audience quiz. Expect an energetic production with tap dancing, top hats and boas and even dancing on the bar. There's even a puppet! You’ll recognise movements that are reminiscent of top Broadway shows that all add up to an evening of magnificent fun and laughter. Dates: 6 to 21 April (Friday 6, 13 & 20  at 8pm and Saturdays at 2:30 and 8pm) Prices: R110 to R120 (Early Bird Special: R 10 discount off pre-booked seats before end March) Venue: Milnerton Playhouse, Pienaar Road, Milnerton

Bookings: bookings@milnertonplayers.com, 082 267 1061 or www.milnerton players.com