THEATER: Nuncrackers

The State Theatre in State College was home to those loveable Little Sisters of Hoboken last week when The State College Community Theatre presented NUNCRACKERS. The Sisters are doing their first TV broadcast before a live audience to raise money for their school. (The first time that I met Sister Mary Regina, the Reverend Mother, and her staff, they were doing a benefit to raise money to bury some of the nuns who had been poisoned, accidentally, by their cook, Sister Julia, Child of God.)

The result is a fun filled evening with an involved audience. Kristina Allen was the Reverend Mother, who tried very hard to keep her band of “entertainers” in control. The rivalry between her and her second in command, Sister Mary Hubert played by Maggie Lee, was good hearted, but evident. Ms. Lee’s touch of Aretha Franklin was worth waiting for.

Sister Robert Anne, who received her training as driver for the convent by stripping stolen cars in her old neighborhood in Brooklyn, was played by Regina M. Brannen. Her solo, “Jesus was Born in Brooklyn” was very well done.

Matt Greer as Father Virgil Manly Trott

I have to admit that my favorite character in the Nunsense plays is Sister Mary Paul (aka Sister Mary Amnesia since the crucifix fell on her head). Katie Kensinger, as Amnesia, stayed in character beautifully throughout the play. Her biggest laugh may have been announcing to the audience that we would be seeing their production of “Ballbusters” until Sister Mary Regina explains that it will be doing “Nutcrackers”.

Matt Greer joined the sisters as Father Virgil Manly Trott. He absolutely stole the show when he had to fill in for Sister Julia, Child of God. He gave new meaning to the Holiday Traditional Fruit Cake--- with lots of rum - some of which was put in the cake.

Veteran character actor, Mercer Bristow, supposedly had a “small” part as stage manager, Father George Krump. It goes without saying that Mercer made the most of his “small” part.

Sister Mary Paul (Katie Kensinger) and the school children
(Sela Plummer, Cordelia Marie Ceres,
Kevin Dolan and Max Plummer)

The school students were delightfully played by Sela Plummer, Cordelia Marie Ceres,
Kevin Dolan, and Max Plummer. Their facial expressions were priceless, especially when Sister Mary Paul led them in “Here We Go a Waffleing” and “The Holly and The Ivory”.

The Little Sisters of Hoboken can be counted on for a fun - filled evening and The State College Community Theatre under the direction of Martha Traverse certainly gave them a chance to shine.