Christmas Catechism gets an A+!
by Amythest on 12/21/10Ferguson Center Studio Theatre - Newport NewsRating: 5 out of 5Sister's Christmas Catechism is one of the follow-on sequels to the original and innovative "Late Nite Catechism" of the early 1990's. As a former Catholic school student, I found both laugh-out-loud funny. The actress playing "Sister" (a generic old-habit Catholic teaching nun) brought out the nostalgia for the idealized parochial school culture, while making jabs at its foibles through hilarious asides. I was expecially impressed by the way "Sister" ad-libbed with the audience; the spontaneity of her responses was particularly impressive, and made the experience believable--almost a time-warp back to grade school (or one's perception thereof). The final tableau--I won't spoil the surprise--was side-splitting hilarious. "Sister" brought out the best of that bygone age of education, as well as that of her audience "students." I would recommend this experience (It's more than just a play) 100%, especially for Catholic elementary school alumni. It's also appealing for those who are familiar with Catholic popular culture and who can understand the lingo and references to Catholic doctrine and liturgy. A notable innovation in this play was the addition of live musicians who set the scene and added holiday flavor during the proceedings.