By Grace Frost
Nuns in cowboy hats and tutus, a singing puppet, a tap dance routine and an audience quiz are among the many highlights of Broadford Amateur Theatrical Society’s production of Nunsense.
The ‘heavenly’ musical opened on Thursday night at Broadford Shire Hall, and continues this weekend with two more shows on Friday and Saturday.
Nunsense tells the tale of five nuns who frantically put together a fundraiser concert in attempt to secure funds to bury fellow nuns – who passed after being poisoned by the chef.
The Broadford Amateur Theatrical Society, BATS, instalment of the musical comedy featured the cast of five – Janice Kemp, Julie Tennant, Sherie Mills, Alicia Biancon and Faith Anderson – who ketp spirits high for two acts of nun-sensical fun and left their audience in laughter.
Ms Kemp embodied the lead role of Sister Mary Regina in her BATS’ debut. Her wittiness and vibrant musical numbers amused the audience, with her performance of a twist up with ‘rush’ proved the most unforgettable.
Ms Mills, as Sister Robert Anne, was an absolute show-stopper in her first lead role with BATS after 32 years of involvement, leaving nothing behind in her multiple incredible vocal solos, truly earning the ministry of applause from an adoring audience.
A member of the BATS since 1981, Ms Tennant was bold and captivating as Sister Mary Hubbert, striking in her dialogue and sharp in her comedic timing. She not only shone in a duet with Ms Kemp, but her performance of ‘Holier Than Thou’ was an audience-favourite and closed the show with a bang.
Ms Anderson let her 12 years of dance studies shine on stage with her ballet performance and wowed with her angelic harmonies while supporting her grandmother, Ms Kemp, bringing grace and youthful-fun to the character of Sister Mary Leo. In her second year with BATS, her stage presence and fun-filled solo, sung while dancing, was most impressive.
Ms Biancon was anything but forgettable as Sister Mary Amnesia. She took the spotlight in her song with a hand-held puppet, which she also voiced, and saw the crowd burst out in laughter during the audience quiz she led.
Her act two performance of ‘I Could’ve Gone To Nashville’ was the most fun, with Ms Biancon never failing to express her character’s endearing naivety with great enthusiasm.
The band, consisting of Bruce Stephens on bass guitar, Barb Fleming on synthesizers and Paul Szczur on drums, brought the production to life, also participating in dialogue with the nuns throughout the performance.
Direction by Shaun Geerlings-Parker with musical direction by Julie Wallis, Nunsense came to fruition for an enjoyable night out in Broadford.
.