Sister's act is holy riot
If any nun could solve all the world's problems in one night, Sister could.
We don't learn the first name of the nun who holds sway in "Put the Nuns in Charge!" During the show, which opened Wednesday in Aurora's cozy Copley Theatre, the audience must address her as "Sister," and must stand while doing so. Late arrival, gum chewing, inappropriate clothing or talking may earn you a sliver of the spotlight's shame.
Modeled after a vintage Catholic school classroom experience, "Charge!" is a spin-off of Vicki Quade's interactive phenomenon "Late Nite Catechism." The original's been running since 1993 and also spawned "Sunday School Cinema" last year, so the concept should be familiar to local audiences.
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The difference in "Charge!" is that Sister focuses less on the minutiae of Catholic education and more on how the lessons imparted there apply to modern life. Sister explains that this class was mandated by Pope Benedict XVI's concern that modern Catholics are out of touch with the Golden Rule. Her sassy tirade on interpersonal civility follows, structured around the Seven Deadly Sins.
Because Sister's moral outrage is tempered with humor and common sense, she's not a preachy religious fuddy-dud. She's more like your harmless neighborhood crank: you may not always agree with her, but she can always get a laugh out of you.
The show's interactive content is as important as the scripted rants. Audiences need to play along for this aspect to be a success, but the responsibility for holding it together falls to the actress playing Sister, whose does more than lead a "Kumbaya" sing-along or deliver souvenir trinkets for correct answers to her questions.
At Wednesday's opening, Noble Fool cofounder Patricia Musker (who alternates with Lisa Braatz and Kathleen Puls Andrade) made frequent contact with the crowd. Musker demonstrated expert improvisational skills by reacting to and riffing on audience members' answers, going beyond by building them into running jokes that intertwined later in the show.
It's natural that Quade's "Sister" comedies are best appreciated by Roman Catholics -- practicing, recovering or otherwise -- who have fond memories of stern schoolmistresses. Still, you don't need religion to be exasperated at rude cell phone users or the useless Olsen twins' celeb status, which means most of the easy humor in "Charge!" is universal.
"Put the Nuns in Charge!"
3 stars
out of four
Location:
Copley Theatre in the North Island Center, 8 E. Galena Blvd., Aurora
Times:
2 and 8 p.m. Saturdays, 2 p.m. Sundays and Wednesdays through March 30
Running time:
About one and one half hours, with intermission
Parking:
Nearby lot
Tickets:
$27
Box office:
(630) 896-6666 or paramountarts.com
Rating:
Mild adult themes