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'Til Death: Late Night Catechism' gives the audience top billing
Wednesday, February 17, 2010
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By Warren Gerds
wgerds@greenbaypressgazette.com
The line on the accompanying pop-out box says “Play review,” but “’Til Death Do Us Part: Late Nite
Catechism 3” is more an event.
The audience is the show.
This is how action starts: Into a classroom setting walks a nun, simply known as Sister, in a full,
traditional habit. She takes command. This Sister has a New Jersey accent, so there’s a certain
toughness to her.
Somebody chewing gum? Bingo, she’s on ’em.
Somebody talking? Somebody always is in an audience. “Stand up. What’s your name? Put your hands to your side. What’s your communion name?”
Sister gains entrée into personalities, and she (actress Denise Fennell in the production at the Weidner Center) keeps rolling in a seamless display of ad libbing and improvisational comedy.
On opening night, Sister/Fennell kept the fur – and laughs -- flying for almost half an hour before
anything closely approximating scripted material surfaced.
Key parts of the script turn around Catholic sacraments involving marriage and prayer for the sick,
formerly known as last rites. Comedy is fused with information, with Sister earnest about matters of
faith.
More spontaneous humor erupts in “The Compatibility Game,” a mix of “The Newlywed Game” and “The Match Game.”
The game is played well into the show, after Sister has couples on her radar from all the earlier
interplay. Sister picks one older couple and one young couple and asks questions tailored to the age
ranges. More fun and laughs ensue.
Fennell previously appeared in Green Bay as Tina, the wise-mouth bride in “Tony and Tina’s Wedding.” She was handpicked by franchise creator Maripat Donovan to take on Sister. Fennell is a master of improv, and the show is a hoot.
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