Review: NUNCRACKERS: THE NUNSENSE CHRISTMAS MUSICAL at Desert Theatreworks

What do you call a nun who can sing? A sister act!  And what do you call four nuns and a monk who sing and dance during Christmas? “Nuncrackers!” now playing weekends at Desert Theatreworks through December 29.  Author, librettist and composer Dan Goggin’s “nunzapalooza” of ecumenical musical comedies are crowd favorites because, hey, who doesn’t find wise-cracking, singing, dancing, slightly naughty penguins funny? “Nuncrackers” is number four in the series of nine (yes there is an order).  What is part of the brilliance of the concept is that each show stands on its own, but there are running threads of plot running from one show to the next that become fun little easter eggs if you see more than one of the sequel Nunsense shows regardless of venue.

In this case, Reverend Mother and Sisters Hubert, Robert Anne, and Mary Paul who is still referred to lovingly as Sister Amnesia (one of those aforementioned “easter eggs” from the OG Nunsense) are putting on their first televised musical for the holidays on Hoboken Public Access.  Ballerina nun Sister Mary Leo is slated to stage her version of “The Nutcracker” (or as Amnesia calls it “The Ballbreaker”), but, well, things start self-destructing almost immediately.  They are joined in the train wreck of their holiday extravaganza by Father Virgil Manly Trott who happens to be Sister Leo’s biological brother.  Oy!

The cadre of canonical clowns this time around are Sharon Boucher as Reverend Mother Sister Mary Regina, Colette “Coco Maria” Owens as Sister Mary Hubert (who will be portrayed by Kirstie Acosta the week of December 26 – 29), Jessica Lenz as Sister Robert Anne, L.T. Cousineau as Father Virgil Manly Trott, Jana Baumann as Sister Mary Paul aka Amnesia.  They are swarmed by eight “Mount St Helen’s” school students who won a contest to participate in the sisters’ show.  Those precocious ones include Aalina Aguilar, Aaria Aguilar, Gemma Eppey, Cesar D LaPorte-Aguilar, Kayla Lopez, Trevor Rabe, Isaac Urrutia and Nike Urrutia, all of whom are participants in DTW’s KidsWorks youth program.

Ms. Boucher’s “RevMo” is a borscht belt incarnation of the character, bringing to mind a bit of Ethel Merman with some Kay Ballard sprinkles on top. With that type of more aggressive personality, it is very important to temper it with lighter moments and humor to avoid coming off as angry. Sister Hubert often is the counterbalance to the more authoritarian tendencies of Regina, with lots of humor and sass.  Ms. Owens did that well, though I’d have liked to see it go a bit larger.  With a gospel voice, her “It’s Better to Give” was a showstopper.  Jessica Lenz had the right balance with the snarky Robert Anne, just enough Brooklyn to establish background but not too much to stumble into caricature. This time Robert Anne’s normal mischief is routed through her use of the evil nun puppet Sister Mary Annette, which was very funny in her re-telling of how the angel got on top of the Christmas Tree.  Ms. Baumann’s take on the ditzy Mary Paul put in just enough of the odd-man-out vibe that character mixes into the sisterhood, ensuring some degree of chaos will ensue.  Her “Santa Ain’t Coming To Our House” was fun.  Speaking of odd-men-out, the addition of a brother instead of a sister in Father Virgil portrayed by L.T. Cousineau added opportunities to have some run-ins from the other side of the cloth, so to speak.  His spotlight moment is in his Sister Julia (Child of God) cooking segment.  If I could pass on anything, I would say “Be Bigger! and savor the naughtiness of the bit much more.  His take on “The Christmas Box” was touching and well rendered.  The kids added in cute factor and innocent blue-tinged humor in their interstitial bits like “Here We Come A-Waffling” and “The Holly and the Ivory” to elicit some extra chuckles.

Director Raul Valenzuela had his work cut out for him.  It helped that he had been a part of the Nunsense universe a couple of Christmases ago as Sister Hubert in Nunsense A-Men at DTW.  The humor is broad but it does need to be specific as to where to punch up punchlines and character particular schtick. For the most part, he was successful in getting that, though I would have liked to see the sisters having more fun on stage, which is part of their charm.  Choreography by Violet Feath and Mr. Valenzuela was a bit light this time around but there aren’t as many group numbers requiring huge dance numbers except for “The Nutcracker Suite”, which frankly left me a bit underwhelmed. The dual “sugar plum fairies” battling it out for center stage should be raucous, it didn’t quite hit that mark the night I attended.  The set by Steve Giboney was functional and festively painted.  The storybook doors at both wings were a unique way of splitting scenes, particularly the cooking segment.  Lighting and sound had some challenges, the largest of which was not being able to hear the actors nor the kids when they were singing (the kids not appearing to be mic’d).  Actors ending up in the dark when going too far downstage remain a challenge.  The costumes by Hayden James were, unfortunately, a miss for me.  Habits are deceptively intricate, requiring multiple layers in specific order.  Rosaries are NOT worn around the neck, they are attached to the rope belt.  Mother Superior’s crucifix was almost actual size, how she avoided hitting herself in the face with it when dancing is a bit of a mystery.  Why was Father Virgil dressed as the Pope?  The lines specify he is a monk, so not using monk robes missed the boat.  The over dressed pieces like for the “We Three Kings” number and the Sugarplum Fairies did not meet the moment.  Geo Medina and Sam Parks' prop designs were appropriate and easily definable.

I think the finale song (which is an audience sing-a-long) says it all.  “We Wish You Peace on Earth, Goodwill and Cheer, and All Good Things in the Coming Year.  May each Day be Merry and Bright and Filled with Blessings Every Night”.  Enjoy the liturgical lunacy at Desert Theatreworks production of “Nuncrackers: The Nunsense Christmas Musical” which is running Tuesday & Wednesday Dec 17 & 18 at 7:30pm, Thursdays, Fridays, and Saturdays at 7:30 p.m. with two added 2pm matinees on Saturdays December 21 & 28; and Sundays at 2:00 p.m. through Sunday, December 29, 2024. Tickets can be purchased at www.dtworks.org or by calling (760) 980-1455. The production plays at the Indio Performing Arts Center, 45175 Fargo Street, Indio.

DTW’s 2024-25 season continues with:

Christmas With The Crawfords (Dec 13 – 29, 2024) Step into a Hollywood holiday hootenanny presented with a new vaudeville-esque twist! DTW SIGNATURE SHOWS presents the revamped and rambunctious Christmas With The Crawfords. Imagine it’s Christmas Eve, 1949, at the Crawford family’s opulent Brentwood mansion, where a musical parody and high-kicking salute to Hollywood's Golden Age unfolds. Silver screen legends like Judy Garland, Carmen Miranda, Gloria Swanson, and the Andrews Sisters take the stage in a tinsel-tangled tribute that's as fresh as new-fallen snow. Forget the usual holiday fare; this festive frolic is the perfect antidote, leaving you with a spring in your step and a thankful heart for the family you’ve got. Join us for a night where Hollywood’s heyday meets holiday camp in a spectacle that sparkles brighter than the star on top of the tree! Featuring Ethylina Canne as Joan Crawford, Kornbread Jete, Vanity Halston as Judy Garland and Sister Burna Cross as LaVerne Andrews and Carmen Miranda at the Riviera Resort Palm Springs.

Legally Blonde, The Musical (Jan 17- Feb 9, 2025) DTW's exhilarating production of "Legally Blonde The Musical" lights up the stage to ring in the new year. Follow Elle Woods as she takes on Harvard Law, fueled by the desire to win back her ex-boyfriend. With infectious energy and catchy tunes, the show captures Elle's journey of self-discovery and empowerment. Along the way, she faces challenges from peers, professors, and her former flame, but with the help of newfound friends, she proves her resilience and determination. Don't miss this fabulously fun musical extravaganza that will have you cheering for Elle every step of the way!

Honky Tonk Angels (Jan 25 - Mar 30 2025) In the BlackBox Theatre. Step right up to the musical extravaganza that’s sure to get your boots tapping and your heart singing! In “Honky Tonk Angels,” three fearless women from diverse walks of life dare to chase their honky tonk dreams all the way to the bright lights of Nashville. Packed with 30 timeless country hits including “Stand By Your Man,” “9 to 5,” and “Harper Valley PTA,” this toe-tapping journey is a rollicking celebration of sisterhood, resilience, and the power of music. From the creator of “Always... Patsy Cline,” get ready for a hilarious, foot-stomping good time that’ll have you cheering for these unstoppable gals every step of the way!

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