THEATER REVIEW : ‘Nunsense’ Returns and the Puns Are Endless

Get thee back to a nunnery, ye “Nunsense” nuns.

“Nunsense,” returning to Los Angeles at the Westwood Playhouse, is one of the most unfathomable long-running success stories in the American theater.

It’s completely dependent on one comic idea: A quintet of nuns in full regalia does the sort of showbizzy songs and comic patter that we normally wouldn’t associate with nuns. Even if you find this idea hilarious, is it really that funny for 2 hours and 20 minutes? Is it worth at least $32.50 a ticket?

From this (non-Catholic) perspective, “Nunsense” yields a couple of good chuckles--and not much else.

The premise of Dan Goggin’s book sounds like something out of Joe Orton. Fifty-two of the Little Sisters of Hoboken have died of botulism from soup prepared by their chef, Sister Julia, Child of God (yuk, yuk). The remaining nuns have buried 48 of the bodies, but the Mother Superior, Sister Mary Regina (Kathy Robinson), bought a Betamax (the most-dated reference in the show) with the funds that might have buried the four other “blue nuns” (hardy-har-har). So the nuns present a talent show to raise the additional money. We’re the audience.

Does the charitable nature of your contribution to the cause entitle you to take a tax deduction on your ticket? Don’t count on it.

Now, this premise might work in an Orton farce. But “Nunsense” is supposed to be nothing more than light entertainment. We’re supposed to feel affectionate toward these nuns, who appear to have accepted the news of this massacre within their ranks with hardly a raised eyebrow.

The whole notion is wacky without being funny, outrageous without being daring. In fact, Goggin clearly had no desire to be daring. He took care not to make the slightest reference to any of the many real controversies within contemporary Catholicism. If he had, he probably would not have received an unofficial stamp of approval from the church, as represented in the “Nunsense” press kit by a photo of Archbishop (now Cardinal) Roger C. Mahony kicking up his heels with the cast of the previous Los Angeles cast.

A single reference to the joy of obedience--”if you have no opinion, the livin’ is easy”--is as close as the show comes to acknowledging that controversies do exist. And it perfectly sums up the philosophy behind “Nunsense.”

The nuns are characterized by types. Mother Superior is commanding but loses her composure when she sniffs a substance called Rush. Sister Mary Hubert (Loretta Devine) is prim and jealous of Mother Superior, but at least she gets to sing the grand finale, a soul-flavored “Holier Than Thou.”

Sister Robert Anne (Angelina Fiordellisi) is “streetwise” and speaks with a Jersey accent. The name of Sister Mary Amnesia (director Robin Taylor) is self-descriptive, but she also gets to play with a puppet in a ventriloquist act and sing a country song. Sister Mary Leo (Merilee Magnuson) dances the “Dying Nun” ballet.

The puns are endless--including a few off-color double-entendres. The comedy never builds to any grand eruption. Support your genuine local parish talent shows; they’re bound to be as entertaining as this, and presumably they’re for a better cause.

* “Nunsense,” Westwood Playhouse, 10886 Le Conte Ave., Los Angeles. Tuesdays-Fridays, 8 p.m.; Saturdays, 2 and 8 p.m.; Sundays, 3 and 7 p.m. Ends Sept. 5. $32.50-$35. (800) 233-3123, (310) 208-5454. Running time: 2 hours, 20 minutes.

Kathy Robinson: Sister Mary Regina

Loretta Devine: Sister Mary Hubert

Angelina Fiordellisi: Sister Mary Robert Anne

Robin Taylor: Sister Mary Amnesia

Merilee Magnuson: Sister Mary Leo

Presented by Eric Krebs. Written by Dan Goggin. Directed and choreographed by Robin Taylor. Musical director Mitch Samu. Set by Barry Axtell. Lights by Paul Miller. Sound by Jon Gottlieb. Production stage manager B.J. Allen.