Hail Mary

Hail Mary is a new comedy about nuns, billed as "a story about everyday miracles…". Written by local playwright Noel O'Neil, it is set in Western Australia and is being very well received in its World Premiere run in South Perth.

Set in the present, these rather progressive nuns, unusually clad in pre-Vatican II habits, make the ladies from Nunsense or Sister Act look quite sedate as we follow their quest to save their convent and the way they deal with an appearance of the Virgin Mary on the roof.

There are some very impressive performances, Carline McDonnell delivers what I feel is her best performance to date as forthright Sister Abbott, Valerie Dragojevic is enigmatic as sassy Sister Vinnie and Jessie McGinn is genuine as fragile Sister Rosa.

Norma Davis continues her run of being cast as dotty old ladies, as the decidedly daffy Mother Theresa. Vivienne Marshall is convincing as faith-challenged Sister Francis and Julia Trefeli had lovely presence as Sister Marilyn. Rounding out the cast were Noel O'Neil as alcoholic Father Costello and Reg Gray as Arch-Bishop Monticello.

Tim Prosser and Phil Barnett's set design is solid with aged gravitas and the convent is effectively lit by Ben Davis' well-considered lighting design.

The capacity crowd at the midweek performance I attended loved the show and very much enjoyed the humour, forgiving some line flubs and not always cracking pace.

Hail Maryis a fun night at the theatre, with some lovely moments of comedy.

Kimberley Shaw