The Divine Sister
The Divine Sister
By Charles Bush
Directed By Tim DeBaun
Staring Cory Boughton, Cira Larkin, Gloria Sicoli
Theatre Downtown, Orlando Fl.</strong>
What would we do in theatre without Catholics to kick around? It’s just another day in the cloistered life of St. Veronica’s – young Agnes (Rachel Comeau) experiences visions, Sister Walburga (Larkin) takes mysterious notes for the “Mother House” in Berlin, Sister Acacius (Sicoli) coaches wresting, and mother Superior (Boughton) seeks funding to rebuild the whole ornate pile from local Jewish philanthropist Mrs. Levinson (Carol Adubato.) Everyone has a secret or five, and the just because someone took a vow of chastity doesn’t mean there was never a bun in the oven.
As Busch comedies go, this one is consistently funnier and more subtle than, say “Vampire Lesbians of Sodom”. Boughton’s Mother Superior switches readily from complete veniality when dealing with skeptical Mrs. Levinson to actual heartfelt care when dealing with closeted Timothy (Logan Curran). Sicoli’s wrestling angle doesn’t slide into the easy gag of lesbianism, and when Larkin descends into the catacombs with Brother Venerius (Curran again) it’s what I always imaging Goth Sex must be like. The gags fly fast and furious, and while I can’t begin to explain how all this fits together; there’s a steady roar of laughter amongst the statuary. That’s another highlight, this Tommy Mangieri set actually looks more authentic than actual churches I’ve seen in Europe. Even the air conditioning is on your side, while the TDT lobby can be toasty in the summer, it’s blessedly cool inside the chapel.
For more information on Theatre Downtown, please visit http://www.theatredowntown.net
