After their hit benefit concert Nunsense, the Little Sisters of Hoboken have caught the "theater flea," as Mother Superior Regina calls it. Just six weeks later, they're back with Nunsense 2: The Sequel as a "thank you" performance. And this time the sisters are really giving it all they've got, as they've heard there's a talent scout in the audience! Nunsense 2: The Sequel has more of the same gentle humor (and Dan Goggin songs) that made the original a hit and once again gives each nun a chance to show her stuff. Sister Mary Leo is more determined than ever to be the first Ballerina Nun and Sister Mary Paul (AKA Amnesia) gets another chance to show her country-music chops. Though Sister Robert Anne (Christine Anderson) is still Mother Superior's understudy, this time she has several solo numbers. "Remembering Annie Greene," the story of a woman trying to meld her former self with life as a nun, is a beautiful and poignant song. After the rollicking "A Convent Song," Mary Paul (Semina De Laurentis) sings a heart-stirring goodbye when the Franciscans come to claim her (but luckily, it turns out the Franciscans are a sham and she gets to stay). Rue McClanahan as Mother Superior gets a solo this time and sings/talks her way through it admirably.
If you liked Nunsense, you'll like Nunsense 2: The Sequel, filmed on tour in 1994. But don't expect anything new--the sequel repeats the structure of the first performance almost exactly--right down to the slightly naughty double entendres (nuns shouldn't say that!) and Catholic humor. --Dana Van Nest
