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The cast of O'Connell & Company's NUNSENSE A-MEN! Guy Tomassi as Sister Mary Regina, Dudney Joseph as Sister Mary Hubert, Nick Lama as Sister Mary Amnesia, Josh Snyder as Sister Robert Anne, and Joey Bucheker as Sister Mary Leo
It was 1997, my first Curtain Up! Though previously aware of it as a civilian, I had never participated and my newly-minted theater reviewer self wasn’t wise enough to get tickets in advance. At the last minute, I scored a single ticket to O’Connell and Company’s Nunsense at the Calumet. This was my first exposure to the incomparable Mary Kate O’Connell and the “Little Sisters of Hoboken.”
It was a fun introduction. Though my Catholic high school experience made me weary of all things ecclesiastic, O’Connell’s sharp performance as Sister Mary Regina won me over. Since then, I’ve been a fan of O’Connell and Co.’s productions of the unfolding chapters in Dan Goggin’s Nunsense series.
On January 19, O’Connell and Company’s latest offering puts a new twist on the franchise as they perform Nunsense A-Men. It’s the original Nunsense script, but with an all-male cast. We spoke to director Mary Kate O’Connell about this decidedly different presentation.
Darwin McPherson: Why did you chose to do the male version of Nunsense?
Mary Kate O’Connell: It’s a simple answer. I love, love, love, with a capital “L,” the whole Nunsense concept. It occurred to me when I was choosing the season that I’d always seen Nunsense A-Men available and I never really gave it much thought. Until one day I was thinking, I’ve had the wonderful privilege of being educated by nuns through most of my life and they were always, to me, a different kind of entity. There’s the old joke that nuns always “floated;” they didn’t walk.They weren’t necessary any particular gender, they were a group unto themselves.
I thought, how awesome to have the opportunity to do a show I love with a different treatment, but still [honor] the nuns for whom I have such high regard. It’s not about being a man or a woman in a religious life. It’s about commitment and their resolve. Of course, we do it with a lot of fun when you have the Nunsense application put on it. It’s not about being in drag and it’s not about anything like that. After the first joke, they’re men playing nuns. Then it’s gone because you’re committed to these nuns who are just non-gender charming characters.
DMcP: Is this the first time you’ve done Nunsense without being in Nunsense?
O’Connell: It is! It’s funny because, even in rehearsal, when one of the other actors is talking to someone else and they say “So, Rev” [short for Reverend Mother], part of me wants to respond. It’s more of a treat than I thought it was going to be. It’s truly an awesome cast that are just completely invested in the characters.
DMcP: What was the casting process like, looking for guys instead of working with your usual crew?
O’Connell: It’s a different kind of casting, but the process is essentially the same. Each of the fellows we put in the roles has a component that very clearly represents the original character. You’re looking for the fun gym teacher, tomboy prankster; the innocent, sweet young ingénue; you’re looking for the “Lucy-and-Ethel” kind of characters. The beauty part is that the actors that we have came to the table with these qualities already. That’s a pretty big gift to give to a director.
DMcP: How do you find a male version of you?
O’Connell: Laughs] If I could pick anyone in the world, Guy Tomassi is the best one to fill my habit! He’s great.
You know what? It’s wonderful because a group of men have a different comic sensibility than a group of women. Despite the fact that I’m not paying too much attention beyond the first laugh that there are men playing the roles. I just want people to see that it’s really the body of work. It’s very light kind of fare, but it’s real, honest humor and genuine fun. Every [actor] is really enjoying their character in the moment. None of the nuns are tongue-in-cheek “Get this? Here’s the joke.” When you do a show like this, it could run the risk of becoming so campy that is almost disrespectful and they’re very careful not to do that.
DMcP: Is there anything else the audience needs to know about this production?
O’Connell: [Since I’m not in the show], this has afforded me and my production team the opportunity to take different moments of the show and really have fun exploring them. We’re using new areas of our stage that we haven’t been able to use before. I hope people come with their laughometer ready to work and enjoy the “funny, nunny musical,” because it’s a boatload of fun.
Starring Guy Tomassi, Dudney Joseph, Josh Snyder, Nick Lama, and Joey Bucheker, Nunsense A-Men runs January 19 through February 12. Thursdays, Fridays, Saturdays at 7:30 pm and Sundays at 2:30 pm.
Tickets: $25 General -- $18 Senior -- $15 Student/Military/Industry
716-848-0800 or www.oconnellandcompany.com
O’Connell and Company performs in Gleasner Hall in Residence at Erie Community College-North Campus on 6205 Main Street in Williamsville.
