Director: Anthea Robertson
Musical Director: Winnie Foster
Choreographer: Carol-Ann Flemming
 

The Order of The Little Sisters of Hoboken was founded in the seventh century by Saint Wilfred, a bishop of England. He established the first convent and school known as the Wilfred Academy. His motto was: "We don't teach beauty - we radiate it!"

Many years later, a small group of pioneering sisters set out for America to establish a Motherhouse in Cleveland. But they got off the plane in Newark by mistake. The Order was "found" by the Newark Airport Police, and the new Motherhouse was established in Hoboken, New Jersey. (No-one used to know where Hoboken was until Frank Sinatra died, and they said he had been born there. Now it's on the map.) It was at that time that the Order of St Wilfred elected to change the name to the Little Sisters of Hoboken, and they have been affectionately known as "The Little Hobos" ever since. It was from this convent that Sr Mary Cardelia, Sr Hubert and Sr Robert Anne set sail for the Mediterranean to establish their leper colony.

Today, the Order has both nuns and brothers as members - all doing various good works in the Diocese of Newark. They also operate Mount Saint Helen's School in Hoboken. The action of the play takes place now - when else?! - in the Auditorium of Mount Saint Helen's School. The Convent itself is just a phone call away.

Any items on the set which cause offence or confusion will be explained by Reverend Mother.

Reverend Mother (Sister Mary Cardelia)

Sr Mary Cardelia entered the Order of the Little Sisters of Hoboken, after a personal tragedy was averted by intervention from Above. At the time, she thought it was a safe bet, but when things turned out good, she proved she is not one to welch on a bet. She headed the pioneering group of religious who established the leper colony in the Mediterranean - not exactly IN it, south a bit - and later returned to Hoboken as Superior General of the Order. The experience of appearing in Nunsense has taken a lot out of her, but rumour has it that she would consider doing national commercials or a television series - to raise money for the Order. Prior to taking her vows, Sr Mary Cardelia was known as Alison Brough.

Sister Mary Hubert

Sr Mary Hubert is originally from a small county in Ireland called Kilquirky, which explains a lot. She currently serves the Order as Mistress of Novices, training the new recruits. Her position is not unlike a drill-sergeant: however, she is the first to point out that her approach is more gentle - but firm. Sister is a little "off-the-wall" at times, but this has been attributed to the fact that she was trampled by a camel that went berserk during the annual nativity pageant held in the leper colony. Sr Mary Hubert was formerly known as Loraine Mudie.

Sister Mary Robert Anne

Reverend Mother took pity on this poor child of a disadvantaged Brooklyn family, expelled from Verna's Cashier School, and accepted her into the Little Sisters Of Hoboken where she became Sister Mary Robert Anne. Today she is one of the most popular sisters with the New Jersey kids because she speaks their language. Reverend Mother regrets the fact that a lot of this language is unprintable. Sister Robert Anne (she doesn't like to use the Mary part - she thinks there are too many already) had a very chequered career prior to entering the convent, when she was known as Yvonne Morton.

Sister Mary Amnesia

Sr Mary Amnesia is a truly lost soul. She arrived at the convent (in her habit - thankfully!) without a clue as to her identity. She has a morbid dread of the crucifix, which in this job is a bit of a drawback. It has been suggested that she resembles Jill Hay, who learned ventriloquism when she entered a different order so that she could pray twice as hard as the others, but that has still to be verified.

Sister Mary Leo

Sr Mary Leo came to the order from an Illinois farm. She entered the convent to dedicate her life to God through the dance. She had tried other venues, but they lacked the appropriate ambience. Many people think that she took her name from her famous "leotard", but that is not true. She is named after her Uncle Leo, a notorious Chicago gangster. Sister thought that by taking his name, the Lord would go easy on him. Sister is a novice, and has much to learn. Prior to taking her vow of poverty - and the rest! - Sister was known as Debbie Boyd.
 

Evening Express: Sisters hit the stage with a vow of laughter

SISTERS, never were there such devoted sisters. Devoted to the cause of making you laugh, that is. The script of Nunsense is just as it suggests - a hilarious night out for all concerned, including those on stage. Obviously relishing every moment of the fun, humour and lively music, this North-east amateur premiere proves to be a perfect vehicle for the huge talents of the Attic cast.

Director Anthea Robertson makes the most of this contemporary show, helped largely by her choice of leading ladies - of whom there are five - while Winnie Foster and her band bedecked in habits provide an excellent accompaniment.

As Mother Superior, Alison Brough is superb - reminiscent of the Vicar of Dibley - while Jill Hay delivers an outstanding performance as Sister Mary Amnesia, complete with a surprise co-star. Real life sisters Yvonne Morton and Loraine Mudie are as different on-stage are they are off, with Loraine as the quiet and serious Sister Mary Hubert while expert singer Yvonne is bubbly and vivacious as Sister Mary Robert Anne from the Bronx. Finally, as Sister Mary Leo, Debbie Boyd is the charming and aspiring ballet dancer of the tale, which sees all five nuns undertaking a fund-raising concert to help exhume their dead counterparts from the convent’s freezer and bury them in a manner more deserving.

I haven’t heard so much laughter in the Arts Centre for a while, so if religious rantings aren’t your thing, Nunsense kicks the habit in style… The show runs until Saturday, with performances at 7.30pm nightly.

Sonja Rasmussen