Saw NYMF's THE TRAGIC & HORRIBLE LIFE OF THE SINGING NUN

[miss pennywise]

Posted: 9/15/06 at 7:15pm

I saw the 1:00 PM show this afternoon.

This show has A LOT going for it. The first act is hilarious. It's "Valley of the Dolls Goes Vatican." Good music, clever lyrics, great performances.

Act II is problematic though. The mood shifts from the crazy, campy, silly, over-the-top wackiness of Act I to Act II's serious, somber, dark commentary. No transition, no segue, just bang! Harsh reality. It's as though Act I and Act II are two separate shows.

Talented cast!! Everyone is very good in the show, but, for me, the stand-outs are Stephen Michael Rondel as the Drag Queen Nun; Kristine Zbornik as Sister Helen Lawson (you'll love the "ripping of the habit off the head" scene); Michael Hunsaker as heartthrob, bisexual priest/show business promoter Father Lyon; and Tracey Gilbert as Annie.

Would I recommend it? Absolutely.

I look forward to seeing it again sometime in the future after it's been manicured.

[MasterLcZ]

Posted: 9/15/06 at 9:08pm

Interesting about the shift - because when I saw the show on Thursday night, I so hated the campiness of Act 1 (I thought it was pretty much a stale drag show with yawningly obvious jokes about Catholicism and nuns that were old-hat in 1967) I left at intermission. If I had known it was going to be very different and darker in Act 2 I would have stayed.

I agree about Zbornick (very very funny) and Gilbert, who has a very beautiful and plaintive voice.

Updated On: 9/16/06 at 09:08 PM

[Jane2]

Posted: 9/15/06 at 11:32pm

I saw the show today too, and thought Act I was positively hilarious. I thought the actors were strong and well cast (standouts for me were the same as Miss P's). The lyrics were just as funny as the book. I thought this is camp at its best!

Act II-what a disappointment. I felt myself starting to fall asleep. Besides it being serious, I thought it was boring.

IMO the show should eliminate Act II, and create a campy ending in Act I, having a 90 minute show.

I'd definitely go back and see Act I over and over again~

[BobRandomGuyMan]

Posted: 9/16/06 at 12:52am

I also went to see this and agree with everything everyone has said. Act I is wonderful but Act II gets really slow really fast. That being said, I think the show has a lot of potential if they can fix Act II!

I'll also echo what people say about the cast... one of the best small ensembles I've seen of late. Everyone that has been mentioned does wonderfully in the show, as well as Eileen Stevens as the Singing Nun's mother with a number ripped straight from Carrie, and Randy Blair as the Paul Lynde-esque showbiz St. Dominique.

I wish the creators much success in developing this!! If they can figure out how to bring more of what makes Act I so great into Act II while retaining the momentum and gravity of the situation, it could be a great show.

[miss pennywise]

Posted: 9/16/06 at 2:46am

Jackie Hoffman sat right behind us. She laughed loud and often.

[Dollypop]

Posted: 9/18/06 at 9:26pm

The Nun Sings But the Show Never Soars