NY1 Theater Review: "The Divine Sister"
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Writer and performer Charles Busch has made a name for himself over the years with campy theatrical spoofs of Hollywood movies -- and he gets to play the leading lady. In his latest work, Busch sets his sites on movies about nuns in "The Divine Sister." NY1's Roma Torre filed the following review.The great charm of anything written by Charles Busch is his unique ability to mock and celebrate his subjects simultaneously. His love of classic B-movies is translated onto the stage in hysterical fashion. And this time around we’re treated to a send-up of films featuring nuns. From "The Bells of St. Mary’s" to "The Sound of Music," "Agnes of God" and even "Doubt," he doesn’t miss a beat. And once again, anyone hoping to keep a straight face hasn’t got a prayer.
Busch cast himself as the steadfastly spirited singing Mother Superior of St. Veronica’s in Pittsburgh, on a crusade to build a new parish school. It’s a classic character type from the old movies and he’s surrounded himself with an assortment of stereotypes. There’s the full of gumption, no-nonsense sister, the mysterious heavily accented German nun, and the innocent, young postulant with visions.
The plot is a mishmash of familiar screenplays riffing melodramatically on such things as spy capers, romantic histories complete with flashbacks and, of course, secret pregnancies and revelations of long-lost children.
And while it all tends to ramble like a trip through the Vatican catacombs, the laughter is nonstop. As long as you don’t mind feeling hopelessly lost from time to time, "The Divine Sister" is quite a hoot.
As usual, Busch is blessed with a brilliant company. Pulling out all the stops are some of the most talented actors on any New York stage right now -- Jennifer Van Dyck in the dual parts of a rich dowager and nerdy young boy; Amy Rutberg as the wacky, wide-eyed Sister Agnes; and Jonathan Walker as a gung ho reporter and former lover of the Mother Superior; Busch impeccably channeling the old movie divas; Julie Halston’s hilarious Sister Acacius; and the wonderful Alison Fraser looking and sounding oh so divine.
The mark of a great parody is that you don’t necessarily have to know the source material to appreciate it. Under Carl Andress' spunky direction there’s so much good humor packed into the 90 minute Divine Sister, you could easily miss half the jokes and still find it comic heaven.