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'Sister' Makes A Habit Of Holiday Laughter

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By KATHY L. GREENBERG

Tribune correspondent

Published: December 5, 2008

TAMPA - If you have any doubt that good things come in threes, check out "Sister's Christmas Catechism" at the Tampa Bay Performing Arts Center. Playwright Maripat Donovan has scored a trifecta with this funny follow-up to her popular "Late Nite Catechism" and "Late Nite Catechism 2."

The parochial school's holiday party is about to begin, and Sister (Kathleen Stefano) is squeezing in one last Christmas lesson with her class - that's you, the theatergoer. It's actually more of a refresher course on the Nativity, and Sister puts her students through the paces with promises of gifts for every right answer. What were the names of the three wise men? Who were Mary's parents and how in the heck do you pronounce "Joaquim"? When was the Nativity first reenacted?

Her lecture evolves into a forensic investigation of the Magi's gold, the disappearance of which has stumped historians for years. "CSI" couldn't do a better job re-creating this crime scene.

With help from a stagehand and a few brave souls from the audience, Sister casts and costumes all the major players: Mary, Joseph, the Magi, a shepherd, the little drummer boy, an ox, an ass and a sheep. (A plastic lawn ornament represents Baby Jesus.) Then, after careful analysis using her brilliant deductive skills and a bit of string, she solves the age-old mystery.

Stefano made a wonderful nun, negating many of those Catholic school horror stories with her warm humor. She swept across the stage and into the audience in full habit, doling out tiny gifts, some interesting facts (Did you know that candy canes are made to resemble the shepherd's staff?) and more than a few chastisements.

Woe to those who sat up front chewing gum. She made them all spit it out, making sure no one stuck a wad under the table. It was one of several serendipitous moments of ad-lib that Stefano mastered and that made the production sparkle.

Some of the best unscripted dialogue came after Stefano asked theatergoers to regale her with their own Christmas stories. One woman lamented the loss of her Baby Jesus in New Jersey. She said the Nativity figure blew away in a snowstorm, never to be found again. Stefano responded, "That's one of the saddest things I've ever heard." And she meant it.

"Sister's Christmas Catechism" is a nostalgic treat that everyone can enjoy - with or without confirmation.

THEATER REVIEW

Sister's Christmas

Catechism

WHEN: through Dec. 21; 7:30 p.m. Wednesday through Saturday, 2 p.m. Saturday and Sunday

WHERE: Tampa Bay Performing Arts Center, Jaeb Theater, 1010 N. MacInnes Place, Tampa

TICKETS: $31.50; call (813) 229-7827 or visit www.tbpac

.org

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