THEATER REVIEW : New ‘Nunsense’ Arrives With Its Charms Intact : The actor-friendly tweaking of Catholicism hasn’t worn out its welcome in this, the latest version to hit the area.

The Little Sisters of Hoboken aren’t the flying variety of nun played by Sally Field in the vintage television series. But they might as well be, the way they’ve been moving about Ventura County the last few months, taking over the bodies of various sets of actors in a multiplicity of productions of Dan Goggin’s musical revue, “Nunsense.”

The newest, and easternmost, local manifestation opened last weekend at the Simi Valley Cultural Arts Center.

Briefly, the show is Goggin’s representation of a fund-raising talent show put on by the Little Sisters, in which the author pokes good-natured fun at Roman Catholic ritual. It’s a natural for community theater: only a small cast is required, and they don’t have to be very good--after all, the nuns are amateurs. Even if, as here, the members of the cast are talented, the job offers showy roles calling for them to act as if amateurs, to what many people consider comic effect. A theater group can hardly lose.

Perhaps the most interesting aspect of “Nunsense” is how different groups can put their own imprint on it, adding their own shameless puns and otherwise tailoring the production. (It would be nice, then, if someone were to dispose of the dated references--like the impersonation of Katharine Hepburn’s 60-year-old “the calla lilies are in bloom again” speech; the now-pointless quote from “Gypsy”--or the sloppy writing: Ed McMahon represents the American Family Sweepstakes, not Publishers’ Clearing House).

While this and the fine (and more audience-involving) version closing Saturday in Oxnard draw from the same script, they are different enough that it’s almost worthwhile--but only for devoted fans of the show--to see both. For the casually interested, one will be quite enough.

And, for those in the environs of Simi Valley, the Soap Box Players’ version has much to recommend it, including a spirited, talented cast and a backstage four-piece band. (The Oxnard production uses what sounds like taped musical backing; last fall’s Ojai show featured an onstage pianist, dressed--like the singers--as a nun.)

Three of the Simi Valley show’s actors cite extensive professional stage and TV credits: Mary Harper as Mother Superior, Jacquelyn Levy as an earthy Sister Mary Hubert, and Denise Jaffe as ambitious Brooklynite Sister Robert Ann. More familiar to local audiences is Sharon Gibson as ditzy Sister Mary Amnesia, so-called because she’s forgotten her name. Newcomer Shana Levy (apparently no kin to Jacquelyn) plays novice and aspiring ballerina-for-God Sister Mary Leo.

The show was co-directed by Roy Spicer III and Dani Brown; he doubles as musical director and pianist, and she as choreographer. Spicer’s band also includes synthesist Edgardo Pena, percussionist Michael Rosen and Sean Stackpoole on woodwinds.

Next up: “Nunsense II” in Ojai, opening June 17.

Details

* WHAT: Nunsense.

* WHEN: Friday and Saturday at 8 p.m.; Sunday at 2 p.m. through June 11.

* WHERE: Simi Valley Cultural Arts Center, 3190 Cochran St., Simi Valley.

* HOW MUCH: $12 general admission; $10 seniors, students and children. Group rates available.

* FYI: For reservations or further information, call 520-0043.