ABOUT THE PLAY

What a delightful entertainment you are about to enjoy in Nunsense! Playwright Dan Goggin’s musical romp is a loving tribute to real-life nuns he met throughout his life. So, who are the Little Sisters of Hoboken? There’s dear, wide-eyed innocent Sister Mary Amnesia who can’t remember who she is (a crucifix fell on her head); wise-cracking Sister Robert Anne who irritates Reverend Mother (and enjoys it just a bit too much); Sister Mary Hubert who secretly wants to stage a nunly coup and shed her position as Number 2; Sister Leo, the novice who has “gotta dance” from the moment we lay eyes on her; and finally, the comically irascible Reverend Mother, whose expression may be reminiscent of a prune,
but who at heart is a big ham and shamelessly funny.

We join the Little Sisters, busily preparing to put on a show-an emergency benefit! You see,they had a “small disaster” back at the convent, when their cook, Sister Julia (Child of God) made a little mistake in her vichyssoise soup recipe and almost every one of the sisters died instantly of botulism–52 of them! So, our sisters are raising money to bury the last four of the dead nuns, who are currently resting in frigid peace in the school’s freezer. Hang on! It’s going to be a funny ride!

Martha Traverse, Director

A BIT OF BACKGROUND INFORMATION

The Order of the Little Sisters of Hoboken was founded in the seventh century by Saint Wilfred, a bishop of England. He established the first convent and school known as the Wilfred Academy. His motto was “We don’t teach beauty-we radiate it!” Many years later a small group of pioneering sisters set out for America to establish a motherhouse in Cleveland. But they got off the plane in Newark by mistake. The order was “found” by the Newark Airport Police and the new motherhouse was established in Hoboken, New Jersey. It was at that time that the Order of St. Wilfred elected to change the name to the Little Sisters of Hoboken, and they have been affectionately known as the ” Little Hobos” ever since. It was from this convent that Sister Mary Regina, Sister Mary Hubert, and Sister Robert Anne set sail for the Mediterranean to establish their leper colony. Today the order has both nuns and brothers as members-all doing various good works in the Diocese of Newark. They also operate Mount Saint Helen’s School in Hoboken.