Kristine Ann Lowry, Lauren Sutton-Beattie, Jane Harrington, Tina Smith, Nicole Thordsen Photo by Jere Torkelsen

So it was with some minor trepidation that I got myself to Novato Theater Company for their production of Nunsense, a musical which ran for ten years off-Broadway and has since played all over the world, and has been translated into more than two dozen languages. Although I wasn't impressed by the show itself, the cast is so delightful, so charming, and ultimately so endearing, that I was able to look past some of the lamer jokes and uninspired lyrics and just enjoy two hours of escapism.

Nunsense (book and score by Dan Goggin) tells the story of the Little Sisters of Hoboken, who have recently suffered a terrible tragedy. It seems the order's cook–Sister Julia, Child of God–served up some tainted vichyssoise that killed nearly every member of the order. To raise the money to bury the last four sisters (who are temporarily stored in the convent's freezer), after a previous moneymaking scheme failed to bring in sufficient funds to inter all 52 ex-nuns, the Mother Superior, Sister Mary Regina (Jane Harrington), decides to put on a variety show. Assisting her are Sister Mary Hubert (Kristine Ann Lowry), mistress of novices; Sister Robert Anne (Tina Smith), a street-wise bride of Christ from Brooklyn; Sister Mary Leo (Lauren Sutton-Beattie), a novice whose dream is to be the first ballerina nun; and Sister Mary Amnesia, who, true to her name, has some memory issues after being beaned by a crucifix. Sister Mary Amnesia is played by Nicole Thordsen, who absolutely blew me away a few years ago with her performance of "Getting Married Today" in the NTC production of Company. Her perky demeanor and flawless comic timing are on display here, as well. If only she had some better songs to work with! (A polite suggestion to NTC: cast this young woman as Sally Bowles in your production of Cabaret later this season!)

The sisters run through a range of songs and scenes that tell the story of the order and the backstories of some of the nuns, who all the while worry how they are going to bury the nun-sicles back in the convent freezer before the health department starts levying fines. There are a handful of clever jokes (including a very funny physical gag involving a ruler–rather similar to the one Sister Monica used to rap my knuckles with), but the humor here mostly rates a C+.

The cast, on the other hand, operate in solid B+/A- territory. Jane Harrington's mother superior is appropriately officious and stern (though she takes the scene where she accidentally-on-purpose inhales some Rush–a chemical stand-in for amyl nitrate–a little too far over the top). Tina Smith plays Sister Robert Anne with a sweetness that belies her rough upbringing. As Sister Mary Hubert, Kristine Ann Lowry milks the most from her lines with sly glances and restrained hauteur. Lauren Sutton-Beattie puts her adorable round, rosy cheeks to good use as the innocent novice, Sister Mary Leo, oozing charm and joyfulness.

Director Lisa Morse keeps the action moving smoothly from scene to scene, the set (by Tom O'Brien) nicely establishes the feel of a middle school gym being used as a set for an 8th grade production of Grease, and Nick Brown's three-piece band is always in tune and in time.

Thanks to the joyous enthusiasm of the cast of five, this production of Nunsense mostly overcomes the weaknesses (and somewhat dated nature) of its rather bland book and songs.

Nunsense runs through October 6, 2024, at Novato Theater Company, 5420 Nave Drive Novato CA. Shows are Fridays and Saturdays at 7:30 p.m., and Sundays at 2:00 p.m. Tickets are $35 general and $25 for those under 18. For tickets and information, please visit www.novatotheatercompany.org or call 415-883-4498.