Sister Sandi Spagnanowicz arrives at Heavenly Sisters of Bovina Convent, ready to begin “nunning,” after receiving her certification from an online course. The handyman: Otto Mantooth tries to warn her off, but bless her heart, Sister Sandi’s just too naive (even for a Novitiate) to take the hint and amscray. When The Mother Superior politely declines her offer, Sandi ignores her, convinced her wealth of experience will be too bountiful to resist. Enter Brother Ed Fielding and Brother Fabio DeLeon (a fey Hand Model who constantly moisturizes with mayonnaise) two monks who also tell Sister to get out while she can, but Sandi’s determined to throw caution to the winds. Mother Superior returns to subject her minions to prolonged degradation, while forcing their participation in Nun Puncher. Nun Puncher is a heavy metal band, whose drummer creates a hypnotic rhythm (Mother’s forte) that subjugate all who hear it. Vile, insidious Mother Superior will stop at nothing until she achieves her goal of (wait for it) WORLD DOMINATION.
Playwright Everett Newton has a distinct gift for absurd comedy, and Nun Puncher is no exception. Weaving together the mystic elements of anagrams, ink poisoning, Planet Drumming, black smithing, and other phenomena too numerous to mention, Newton creates an alternative universe of goofy, absorbing, trippy, deadpan insanity that will tickle your Id and intoxicate your Psyche. He marries the serious to the preposterous, the wicked to the nonchalant, and exotic dancing to religious discipline, with hilarious results. Nun Puncher is engaging, clever and marvelously entertaining. The music that Newton has composed, enhances and jolts the material, rocking your lame ass and the furniture.
Director Andy Ray Bridges and his cast of self-assured, merry bandits of laughter (Hailey Sather, Mary Jo Christian, Bridgette Mishelle, Andrew Sather, Ramon Sanchez, Angel Arroyo and Netherina Noble) along with the Nun Puncher Band (that you could hear in Prague) have assembled a delightfully witty, amusing show. The players are poised and in sync, with an instinctive feel for delivering lines. Kudos to Hailey Sather, an adorable “Unnatural Disaster” who can trash my condo anytime she wants.
Special thanks to the grand folks at The ArtCentre Theatre, that gave me permission to attend the last day of the run. Nun Puncher closed April 29th, 2018.
The ArtCentre Theatre, 5220 Village Creek Drive, Plano, Texas 75093. 214-810-3228 www.artcentretheatre.com