Nun-busting comedy

By Caleb Workman

When people think about church, humorous nuns are not usually their first thought, but Put the Nuns in Charge might change that.

The improve comedy play written by Chicago. resident Vicki Quade will be coming to St. Thomas of Villanova Catholic High School’s Festival Theatre on Nov. 28 and 29.

Quade is the creator of the longest running religiously themed Chicago play Late Night Catechism. That play has been in theatres across North America for over two decades with positive reception and a 4.2 rating from ticketmaster.com.

Put the Nuns in Charge, which came after Late Night Catechism, is regularly performed at its home theatre, the Royal George Theatre, in Chicago. It has been traveling around North America due to its positive reception and family-friendly nature. The play’s religious background tries to teach the world about certain religious aspects through laughter.

“I love writing religious comedies and it’s just a no-brainer to do something on the seven deadly sins,” said Quade. “We take a look at the seven deadly sins and take a modern spin on relaying the story.”

Quade said she tries to identify the worst sins that are being carried out by people in the world now and, through the play, teach the audience how to avoid continuing with these sins.

The play is a two-hour, one-character show which features several actresses.

The school in LaSalle will be visited by Kathleen Puls Andrade, an actress who has been with the show for almost ten years. The Chicago native considers herself a “Jill of all trades.” She has been involved in acting since the mid-90s and is also involved in writing, voice acting and teaching others to voice act.

“About ten years ago I asked Vicki Quade, the writer and producer, if she was hiring,” said Puls Andrade. “She was coming up with a new show called Put the Nuns in Charge, so I auditioned and I’ve been doing it ever since.”

Puls Andrade said audience participation is essential for the play to be carried out the way it was intended to be.

“It’s almost as if there is another character in the show which makes it a lot of fun,” said Puls Andrade. “You have to suspend yourself from disbelief as an audience member and enjoy yourself.”

Puls Andrade said she believes a lot of people enjoy the show because in her generation and the next most people grew up Catholic and the show has a way of bringing up old memories. Although the play has religious ties, the main goal is to get everyone to laugh. She said it doesn’t matter if people are Catholic, the play is intended for everybody.

“The tagline is ‘laugh your sins off’ but it is really meant for anyone,” said Puls Andrade. “No matter what background they come from, everybody laughs. It’s very respectful to Catholicism and people will come up to me after the show and ask me if I’m a real nun.”

The play itself takes place in a classroom setting with the character Mary Margaret O’Brien, an ex-nun who still has nun-like qualities about her. While the audience learns about the seven deadly sins they take part in the play’s overall outcome.

“Each show is different,” said Puls Andrade. “It’s because each audience is different. In essence, no two shows are alike, but everyone still laughs and has a good time.”

Quade said she hope the show does well in LaSalle so they can bring more opportunities here.

“We have tons of shows and we hope to be bringing entertainment there for several years to come,” said Quade. “Bring your kids, bring your mother and bring your grandmother. It’s going to be a good time.”

 

SIDEBAR

Tickets for the show are $30 for adults and $25 for seniors and children. Group rates are also available for parties of eight or more if you contact Sacred Heart Church at 519-734-7512. Tickets can be purchased at Brisebois Christian Bookstore, Sacred Heart Church or online at www.shlasalle.dol.ca.