Lompoc Civic Theatre sings and jokes in the most pious manner with 'Nunsense'

The Lompoc Civic Theatre (LCT) is an organization that lets its members try new things, step out of their comfort zone, and spread their creative wings. The last production was a great example. In Two Point Oh, a software designer programmed an AI version of himself to live on after his death, with the actor portraying the program being piped onto a computer screen live during the performance. It was the first production that LCT has attempted with such an involved technological component.

click to enlarge Lompoc Civic Theatre sings and jokes in the most pious manner with 'Nunsense'
PHOTO COURTESY OF LARRY MCLELLAN
NUNNERY IN NEED: Nunsense is a play within a play, as a group of nuns put on a variety show to help fund the burial of some expired sisters, in the Lompoc Civic Theatre’s dinner theater production of Dan Goggin’s musical comedy.

Last year saw another first for the organization, explained co-director of the upcoming production Nunsense, Patricia Roby, who said that the production of I Do! I Do! was the first time LCT programmed a musical as part of its dinner theater shows at the Village Country Club. Thanks to musical direction from pianist William Koseluk and the hard work of the two actors, the musical was a success and served as inspiration to co-directors Roby and Marian Stave to do another musical dinner theater this year, Roby explained.

“The same crew that did I Do! I Do! last year, which was LCT’s first musical dinner theater ever, was so successful, that when we found Nunsense, we thought, ‘Why not do it again?’” Roby said. “William Koseluk is a very accomplished pianist, he’s played all over Europe, and he suggested the play, and we did a reading and really like it.”

Nunsense is a comedic musical with book, music, and lyrics all by Dan Goggin, a contemporary playwright who premiered the play in 1985. It became one of the most commercially successful off-Broadway plays ever, and is performed often as a beloved comedy in the musical theater canon.

The story tells of five nuns, Roby explained, who put on a variety show to raise funds for the burial of four deceased sisters. More than 50 of their fellow devotees passed after a wave of botulism overtook the convent thanks to some ill-prepared soup. The character Mother Superior (Renee Grant) explains to the audience how previous efforts left the burial budget underfunded following the tragedy, and that the remaining deceased are currently contained in a walk-in freezer, awaiting their final resting place.

“They buried all but four of them, and then the Mother Superior bought a plasma TV, so they ran out of money,” Roby said. “So they put on a fundraiser to raise the rest of the money to put the others where they need to be.

“It’s not really a dark comedy, that’s the darkest part right there,” she continued. “The rest is very lighthearted and funny.”

Mother Superior selects the most talented from her flock to represent the convent, and the other four sisters represent a variety of characters as well. There’s the ballet dancing Sister Mary Leo (Anne Ramsey), the street smart Sister Robert Anne (Brenda Wasenda), the forgetful Sister Mary Amnesia (Chris Jeszeck), and the youngest Sister Mary Hubert (Jordan Mills).

Lompoc Civic Theatre sings and jokes in the most pious manner with 'Nunsense'
CATCH THE SHOW: The Lompoc Civic Theatre presents its dinner theater production of 'Nunsense,' a musical comedy by Dan Goggin, showing on May 7 and 21, and June 4, 5, and 18 with doors open at 5 p.m. at the Village Country Club, 4300 Club House Road, Lompoc. Cost is $48. More info: 735-2281 or lompoccivictheatre.com.

All but one of the performers are returning LCT volunteers, Roby said, as are many of the behind-the-scenes contributors as well.

“It’s fun,” she said. “We’re all coming together again!”

Helping out in the music department is drummer David Gaertig, who shared the lead in I Do! I Do! A number of other longtime LCT contributors are manning the lights, props, promotion, and other aspects of the production.

The Lompoc Civic Theatre gets so many returning volunteers for several reasons, Roby said, but the one that stands out is how welcoming the organization is to those who love stagecraft, whether returning or first-time volunteers. 

“The auditions went very well, and the people we cast in each role, I just can’t see anyone else playing them,” she said. “But it’s a lot of hard work, and I often ask myself, ‘Why do people do this?’ It’s a lot of work, a lot of rehearsal, and a lot of time away from home. But then I think, well, I do it, and it’s because it’s for the love of the show and the love of the theater. And when we get that standing ovation at the end of the night, it’s all worth it.” 

Arts Editor Joe Payne does it for the love of the words. Contact him at [email protected].

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