Nunsense – (SQUIDS QLD)

 Nunsense, presented by SQUIDS (Southeast Queensland Independent Dramatic and Musical Society Inc.), follows the last remaining nuns from the Little Sisters of Hoboken, after a little cooking mishap gave fifty-two members of the convent food poisoning and subsequently died. 

 Presented by: SQUIDSVenue: Redcliffe Entertainment Centre (Brisbane) Thursday, October 6, 2011
Nunsense, presented by SQUIDS (Southeast Queensland Independent Dramatic and Musical Society Inc.), follows the last remaining nuns from the Little Sisters of Hoboken, after a little cooking mishap gave fifty-two members of the convent food poisoning and subsequently died. With not enough money to bury all the nuns, they decide to put on a fundraising concert to pay for the burial of the remaining four bodies, of which are currently in the convent kitchen freezer. The ‘behind the scene’ antics ensue with the QLD Health Department hot on their trails with a request to defrost the freezer. The main nuns held the show with their well trained voices: Naomi Drogemuller as Sister Mary Hubert, Erin Low as Sister Mary Amnesia, Fiona Jassim as Sister Mary Robert Anne, Sarah Ashby as Sister Mary Leo and Deanne Scanlan as Sister Mary Regina. The stand-out role for me was Sister Mary Amnesia, played by Erin Low. Her vocal and physical characterisation was flawless as the totally adorable, funny, and heart-warming forgetful nun. Other highlights was the audience participation quiz and the random drug infused ramblings and antics of Sister Mary Regina, played by Deanne Scanlan, although it was perhaps a little long. I am not familiar with the script so I am unsure how much of the dialogue in the musical was adlibbed, but it did feel that the show would have been slicker with shaving some of the adlibbed or unnecessary dialogue or picking up cues quicker. It was nice to see SQUIDS include some of their younger members in the production. It certainly got the thumbs up from the eight-year old critique sitting next to me. Her expectations coming into the show was ‘a boring show about nuns’, but as soon as she saw the children having a great time on stage, she relaxed and had a great time herself. Another satisfied audience member. The unique thing about SQUIDS is that it is a traveling music theatre society, where the show starts in Redcliffe and will also perform at the Jinibara State School in Narangba, the Gympie Civic Centre, and the Kedron Wavell Services Club.  For more details see their website: www.squids.org.au Dates6-8 October Redcliffe Cultural Centre15 Oct Jinibara State School22 Oct Gympie Civic Centre5 Nov Kedron Wavell Services Club
Booking Information Redcliffe Cultural CentreDowns Street, Redcliffe07 3283 0407  /  www.redcliffeculturalcentre.com.au Jinibara State School50 Cottontree Drive, Narangbam: 0411 682 577  Gympie Civic CentreMellor Street, GympieBooking Office: Musicland – 07 5482 3226 Kedron Wavell Services ClubHamilton Road, Chermsidem: 0411 682 577   /   squids.musical@gmail.com