“Nunsense” opens in Central City theater

Lynn Volkens

01/25/2007 - Temptation Annie’s Acting Emporium in Central City is living up to every bit of its name. “Nunsense” (authored by Dan Goggin) opened January 20^th in the little theater above Temptation Annie's sweet shop on Main Street. The comedic hit was brought to Gilpin by Lori and Tom Phillips, who took over the business last August. They bring years of prior business and theater background, education and operation to the endeavor. Both are longtime Colorado residents who have, between them, owned and operated a marina, resort, restaurant and movie theater in the Grand Lake area. Lori wanted to be closer to family in Lone Tree, and they’ve always liked this area, said Tom, so they bought a house in mid-Gilpin and moved. They have plans for expanding on the sweets and services offered in the candy shop and they intend to build and expand the theater experience, not only for locals but also to broaden Central’s visitor appeal to those wanting a break from casino play. If “Nunsense” is any indication of potential offerings, their business ventures ought to be a hit.

  Annie Phillips (daughter to Lori and Tom) is in the acting business. After obtaining a degree in Musical Theater, she began acting, then expanded into directing and choreographing. She’s doing all three, and then some, in “Nunsense.” Responsible for recruiting the cast, she used her professional contacts to entice the four women who join her on the Emporium’s stage. All have traveled here from New York City for this limited engagement (playing through February 4^th). Their ability to put this show together in quick order, and the quality of the performance, is the mark of professionalism. (Having “Nunsense” on an acting resume attests not only to the actor’s vocal abilities, as the numbers are challenging to perform, but also to comedic timing.) “Nunsense” is loaded with song, dance and combination numbers performed as solos, duets and every combination of cast members up to the full ensemble. At Temptation Annie’s, the “orchestra” was none other than Gilpin’s own Midge Norville (Sister Mary Midge), the indispensable accompanist who had less than a day to rehearse some of the numbers, yet still accomplished the play’s full musical foundation (including a silent-movie score),  through musical genres ranging from Bluegrass to Gospel. The play pokes lighthearted, irreverent fun at Catholicism through fast-paced witticisms, double entendres, puns, gestures and expressions. Once it gets rolling, so does the laughter, as even the non-Catholic audience members catch on. (Those who are Catholic, and willing to admit to it, get a prize.)

  This comedy, with its small cast and zany informality, plays perfectly in the intimate 80-seat theater, dressed to feel the same as a middleschool production. The Little Sisters of Hoboken find themselves short of funds needed to bury four members of their convent, currently on ice in the convent freezer. (It was death by botulism from convent cook, Sister Julia, Child of God’s, vichyssoise.) To raise the funds, the Sisters stage an on-the-spot talent show, using the stage of the convent’s school (Mount Saint Helen’s) to showcase each one’s individual talent. The eighth-graders have already built the set for their own upcoming play, “Grease,” a background the nuns leave in place, adding a wacky incongruent scene for their performance. Beneath the talent show storyline, lie several more plots, a deliciously tongue-in-cheek layer cake of comedy as the audience gets to know the characters.

  Annie Phillips as Sister Robert Anne is the streetwise understudy who wants to be a star and schemes throughout for ways to get center-stage. She gets her chance when Reverend Mother, Sister Mary Regina (played by Cameran Wareham), gets high sniffing something akin to Magic Markers. As Sister Mary Hubert, Jamie Mallory reveals not only her pre-nun ambitions, but also a not-so-generous nature via strategically delivered criticism of Reverend Mother (who impulsively spent the funerary funds on a high-definition big-screen TV). Sister Mary Amnesia (Sara Renee Morris) - bonked on the head by a falling crucifix - not only can’t remember who she really is, but gets lost stage right, stage left and everywhere in between both physically and mentally. Finally, Jess Ayers, playing timid Sister Mary Leo, the novice, is anything but when she later hits her high notes with ear-splitting volume. These are women with strong voices delivering strong performances, who dance and sing with the same high energy at the last scene as the first. They immediately brought an increasingly responsive audience into the action by directing comments and questions to the house in general, and to individual members. (At one point, a Sister moved across the stage, sat on the set’s far-side “bed” and offered to tell her story. A child sitting at the front of the audience moved also, finding an empty chair right below “Sister,” to listen.) A casual post-intermission/pre-act two had the Sisters telling “nun jokes” while they waited for folks to get seated. (Intermission at Temptation Annie’s also included dessert – assorted cakes and cheesecakes, coffee and punch.)

  The Phillips hope the Gilpin community will collaborate with them in bringing more shows to the Emporium. They also intend to produce some community theater and are particularly excited about their youth theater program for 14-21-year-olds. Both have worked with youth via law enforcement (Tom) and social service (Lori) backgrounds. Their first production, “Christmas Portrait,” featured local youth performers and they hope to do another youth production later in the spring. “In a kid’s show, it’s not what you start out with, it’s what you end up with,” they said. Both have been involved in prior youth theater activities and have seen kids of all abilities make gains in confidence and self-esteem that have carried through to other parts of their lives. They have partnered with Vance Fulkerson, head of the Musical Theater Department at University of Northern Colorado, in developing the youth program. Youth interns, Sage Robinson McKaig and Nicole Morse, helped with various duties during performances of “Nunsense.” Proceeds from the play will benefit the youth theater as will an ongoing project, Emma’s (stuffed) Bear Adoption.

  “Nunsense” has numerous performances at various times on Janaury 25^th-28^th and February 1^st-4^th. Spend a few very enjoyable hours with the nuns who are “on their way to heaven but here to raise some hell,” but be warned. Some of the catechismal jibes are right on and, as Tom Phillips put it, “Anyone from parochial school might find their knuckles hurting.” For tickets, call 303-582-5767.