Trip To Vegas Is Nunsense

Plant City Entertainment is performing another play from the hit Nunsense series, as those zany nuns travel to Las Vegas to earn $10,000 offered by an imaginative parishioner.

"Nunsensations: The Nunsense Vegas Revue" is the fifth in a continuing series presented by the community theater. The show finishes a two-weekend run with 8 p.m. shows Friday and Saturday.

Back on stage with rulers in hand are Dodie White as the Rev. Mother Mary Regina, Jennifer Jackson as Sister Mary Hubert, Kim Mitchell as Sister Robert Anne, April Smith as Sister Mary Amnesia and Becky Bavinger as Sister Mary Leo.

The story revolves around a parishioner's offer to donate $10,000 to the sisters' school if they will perform at a Las Vegas strip club.

"This play is a fast-paced musical that is a lot of fun for the performers and the audience," said Shirley Outen, the show's production manager. "Taking a line from another show, a critic pointed out, 'It's a whole lot funny and a little bit naughty, but there ain't nothin' dirty goin' on.'"

The play is directed by Sandy Murphy, with assistance from her mother, Vera Flynn, the co-director and costume designer, with musical accompaniment by pianist Amy Mallalieu.

"This is our fifth Nunsense series performance," Murphy said. "This is the original cast, minus one, and with one exception they have performed together in all the Nunsense plays."

The exception is Bavinger. Her character, Sister Mary Leo, was in the original "Nunsense" and "Nunsense II: The Second Coming," which were produced in 2000 and 2002, respectively. But Bavinger's character was omitted during the next two plays in the series: "Nuncrackers" in 2004 and "Meshuggahnun" in 2006.

Sister Mary Leo was rewritten into the latest play by New York playwright and director Dan Goggin. The local community theater staff jumped at the chance to return Bavinger, a Plant City resident now working in India, to the stage.

"Becky was only 16 years old when she was chosen for the original play," Murphy said. "She was attending a Catholic high school in Lakeland; the only Catholic actor in the play. She was amazing, and we loved her."

A lot has gone on for Bavinger since 2000, Outen said. She graduated from Santa Fe Catholic High in 2002 and from Georgetown University in Washington, D.C.

She is the director of the India program for a worldwide nonprofit organization, The Emancipation Network. The network fights human bondage, slavery, forced prostitution and illegal adoption.

Bavinger works in Calcutta, also known as Kolkata, in northeastern India.

"India, or Kolkata, may not suit many people," Bavinger said. "But it has a strange, exotic appeal about it."

Murphy and Outen contacted Bavinger through her parents, who live in Walden Lake.

"Becky came home for Christmas to be with her family," Murphy said. "Then she went back to India for a month and returned to rehearse and perform in the play. We all love her. It's great to see her and have the cast together again."

White recalled the first Nunsense plays performed by Plant City Entertainment.

"In the first play, Dixie Forbes-Gorby portrayed Sister Amnesia, the character now played by April Smith," White said. "And Becky's part wasn't written into the third and fourth plays in the series. But, overall, we have been together since the beginning."

The players began rehearsal in early January.

"We sent a copy of the script to India for Becky to work with," White said. "She has been working overtime with us to catch up. We know what it takes to get ready. This play will be a lot of fun."

NUN TOO SOON

WHAT: Plant City Entertainment's latest production in the Nunsense series, "Nunsensations: The Nunsense Vegas Revue"

WHEN: 8 p.m. Friday and Saturday

WHERE: Cornerstone Center, 315 N. Collins St., Plant City

TICKETS: $10 general admission, $8 for students through 12th grade and ages 55 and older. Tickets will be available at the door starting an hour before each performance. Advance tickets can be purchased at Hardee's Fashions, 1501 N. Wheeler St., Plant City.

INFORMATION: Call (813) 754-4929.