by Amy Dalness
Daily Lobo
Something about a fanatical nun can be fascinating.
It's fascinating, odd and definitely button pushing.
Christopher Durang's Obie-winning "Sister Mary Ignatius Explains It All for You," a satirical play on organized religion, is all these things, topped with a generous dollop of humor.
The show runs through Sept. 26 at the Vortex Theatre with "Wanda's Visit" in A Twisted Evening of Durang.
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Twisted can certainly be used to describe the play. Uncomfortable is another word.
The content of the one-act plays, particularly "Sister," was thought provoking, hilarious and in your face. The merge of satirical content and religious issues is an almost fail-proof equation for uncomfortable enjoyment.
Sister Mary Ignatius (Stefanie Bilderback) lectures a group of religious skeptics conveniently played by the audience. She explains life after death, confession and the Immaculate Conception - which she reminds the audience not to confuse with the Virgin Birth.
During the play, Sister Mary often calls for the audience to feel the pain of Jesus on the cross.
"Imagine a nail driven through your palm," she said.
John Hardman, director of "Sister," called this piece his answer to Mel Gibson's "The Passion of the Christ."
As Sister Mary bombarded the audience with wordy images of Christ on the cross, it was easy to see what Hardman meant about the comparison to "Passion." Sister Mary would probably enjoy the movie - perhaps too much.
During her lecture, one of her students, Thomas (Robby Durand), recites the commandments for the reward of a cookie. When she asks him more questions, he responds with cookie projectiles and a smile.
Bilderbeck's portrayal of the nun is full of energy and vigor. The piece is designed for Sister Mary to speak directly to the audience in a series of monologues. Bilderback never let any lines get lost and didn't lose her harsh, reprimanding voice.
"Wanda's Visit" also combines humor with somber issues.
This one-act play gives Marsha (Georgette Reeves-Cervini) and Jim (Richard Boehler), a married couple far beyond their honeymoon period, a big, flashy problem - Wanda (Joni L. Lloyd).
Wanda is Jim's ex-high school sweetheart. Her visit goes from bad to worse, especially when Marsha comes home from the grocery store to find Jim giving Wanda a backrub she audibly enjoys.
"Wanda's Visit" goes straight to the issues of marriage and what stress can do to a relationship.
"The situation of comfortable boredom in marriage is very real and a genuine challenge to many married couples," said director Thane Kenny in an e-mail interview.
Lloyd's abrasive portrayal of Wanda was a great character move in the show. Marsha describes her as "an insane nightmare golden retriever."
Reeves-Cervini played Marsha with a vengeful streak, showing a hint of sick pleasure while watching Jim suffer though Wanda's attention.
The bedroom scene that involved the three of them was excruciating to watch. There was no sex, but that didn't matter. Wanda invades the couple's privacy for so long she deserves a slap in the face.
"Sister Mary Ignatius Explains It All for You" and "Wanda's Visit"
Fridays and Saturdays at 8 p.m., Sundays at 6 p.m.
$10 General Admission
$8 Students/Seniors
Vortex Theatre
2004 1/4 Central Ave.
Grade: B+
