Nunsense

It's a bit of an in-joke on the Central Coast that most of their highly regarded theatre companies encounter an occasional identity crisis. Gosford Musical Society was around for forty years before Laycock Street Community Theatre was opened – but the local patrons instantly started referring to GMS shows as “Laycock Street Shows”. Conversely, when The Peninsula Theatre opened in Woy Woy a decade or so later – everyone eschewed that name entirely in favour of the name of area's resident theatre company: “Woy Woy Little Theatre”. It's a small theatre, so it does make more sense. Meanwhile in Wyong – audiences habitually get their two main companies (Wyong Drama Group and Wyong Musical Theatre Company) mixed up. Which might appear to be due to ignorance on the part of the theatre-going public.

Except...

Wait a cotton pickin' minute - WDG brazenly adds to the confusion by whipping out an occasional, random musical or a 'play with music' (to wit: Heaven Can Wait 2005, Harp on the Willow 2010 and Ruthless 2015).

Since the opening of the 500 seat Art House, WDG has relied upon well-known shows such as The Vicar of Dibley, 'Allo 'Allo and Noises Off to re-establish itself in the new (expensive) space and it has paid off. So even though it's the most musical of the musicals they had produced so far, it was a no-brainer that Nunsense had to pop up sooner or later. After all, the 1985 NYC production was the second-longest-running Off-Broadway show in history. The show has since been adapted for television, and has spawned six sequels and three spin-offs. To this day, this show continually keeps on playing, anywhere and everywhere. Stick your head out the window right now and you'll hear a production, I swear.

Director Margaret Holdom (WMTC stalwart) found some first-rate collaborators to get this wacky show on the road. Every technical aspect ticked all the boxes: a very appealing, straightforward, static set (no clunky scene changes, yay!), nicely-balanced sound, vivid lighting, funny costuming and suitably cute choreography.

All that was left was to call together an experienced ensemble to put their own stamp on this zany batch of characters. Seriously, what is it about nuns that is so adorable?  Leading from the front – literally and figuratively, WMTC favourite Amanda Daniel bounces onto the stage to initiate an informal warm up of the audience as sister Robert Anne, then follows it up with a nicely-crafted, performance and accomplished vocals. Following on from her outstanding performance in “Dibley” it seems fitting to refer to Jillian Logan (Sister Amnesia) as a true 'comedienne', but her pipes are also as impressive as heck (forgive me Mother Superior, I almost said a curse word). Ruth Jordon, Cathy DeVries, Bella Nakhoul and Madeleine Stephenson (in a cute cameo) all bounce off each other brilliantly and the ensemble as a whole, nail their harmonies and dance routines. Who says you have to be a musical theatre company to produce a first-rate musical comedy? To paraphrase a line in the show - Jesus really helped Wyong Drama Group kick this one straight through the goal posts.

Rose Cooper

Credits: Directed by Margaret Holdom. Choreography by Madeline Stephenson. Vocal Director - Amanda Daniel. Set Co-designed by the director and Peter Traish.Lighting design, plotted by the director, implemented by Erin Whyley with Scott Daniel on sound. Costume co-ordinator: Cathy DeVries.