By Chelsea Hutt, Contributing Writer
OSWEGO, NY – If you’re looking for entertainment to help you get into the holiday spirit this season, the latest play at Frances Marion Theatre is an event sure to please.
More of a musical, rather than a play, “Nuncrackers: A Nunsense Christmas Musical,” is loosely based on the musical written by Dan Groggin.
Directed by Inez Manor Parker, the play chronicles The Sisters of Hoboken as they put on a televised Christmas show in “real time,” in front of a live audience.
The show is provided from the WCON-TV cable television station built by the Mother Superior.
Near the beginning of the show, the audience is introduced to Sister Mary Paul, or Amnesia as the other sisters call her.
She interacts with the audience, telling stories and moving about the aisles. Amnesia continues to live up to her name and provide comic relief throughout the show.
There are a variety of traditional Christmas songs sung by the Sisters, Father Virgil Manly Trott, and three younger members in the WCON-TV Christmas show: John Kelly, Louise Mayfield and Maria Montini.
When hearing songs, many will remember their childhood and the memories associated with them.
The cast members have wonderful voices that harmonize well together.
To add further delight to the play, The Sisters of Hoboken share a few whimsical songs with the audience members.
These can be classified as rather unusual. “Santa’s Little Teapot” seemed to be a crowd pleaser, complete with a dance of the three young actors resembling a teapot.
“We Three Kings of Orient R Us” was an interesting take on the traditional song, the title referring to shopping during the holiday season.
The audience was rarely silent as the play progressed, laughing and yelling out responses to the cast members’ questions.
The story of The Nutcracker is performed as Sister Mary Regina, the Reverend Mother, narrates the tale.
The dance follows along with the theme of the play, and gets more than a few chuckles from its viewers.
There is also an underlying message about the holiday season in the play that goes along with the idea that sharing with others is better than only thinking of oneself.
Many of the crowd members gave a standing ovation at the play’s end and praised the cast members after the show.
This “nunsense” of a show could quite possible be called nonsense, but the mix of magical nostalgia and silly scenes makes this play fun for everyone in the family.
Time is quickly winding down to catch the last three performances of this very funny and popular show that opened last weekend.
It is the first time the Oswego Players have presented any of Groggin’s “Nunsense” series and it is a far cry from the usual Christmas-themed offerings.
The “Sisters from Hoboken” perform their antics again this weekend.
Final show dates and times are Dec. 10 and 11 at 8 p.m. and Dec. 12 at 2 p.m.
All tickets for this musical offering will be $10.
Reservations will be accepted at The Players Box Office (315) 343-5138.
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