The Houston Critic

“Nunsense” Those girls can definitely sing!

By Austin Green

Sept 13,2014– The Houston Family Arts Center off of Jones Rd and Grant Rd is a very elegant and welcoming building although one can’t draw that opinion from simply looking at the strip center. I was thoroughly impressed by the Garza Main Stage’s elegance and layout. I found my seat and the first thing we, as a collective audience were confronted with was the band. The band was as big of a star as any of the 5, wildly talented cast members.
“Monsignor Stand-Up Bass” along with the wonderful Sister Lucy Hargiss on the Piano and Sister Richard Hahn were impeccable. Especially the fact that Sister Richard was dressed as a nun himself. They played perfectly together to such a level that allowed the audience to “forget” about them even though they were right there on stage with the rest of the cast. When I say forget, it is not in the way one would forget about the song in an elevator. I would attribute their performance to that of a puppeteer who has hidden the strings from the audience. It was grand any way you look at it.
As the play began, I was a bit uncomfortable with the audience interaction because of my unfamiliarity with religion altogether. They were calling on members of the audience and asking them religious questions. It was irrational fear on my part given the nature of the entire show because by the end of the 1st act, I felt right at home watching the Mother Superior huff paint out of a paper bag and shout ridiculous claims about Elvis being alive and well. It was awesome in the way it poked fun at organized religion as a whole. I found the 5 women’s performance to be stunning and the tap dancing scene was worth attendance all by itself. All 5 sisters had ferocious vocal capabilities and you could tell they really studied their lines because, as far as I could tell, none of them were fumbled. Yet again I left the theatre thoroughly satisfied and wanting more. If you’re looking for a good show, I’d definitely recommend The Garza Mainstage’s production of “Nunsense”. It was a hell of a good time!