Jeanne Larranaga fanned herself with her habit.
It can get pretty hot wearing a nun’s habit in the spotlight of the Manatee Players’ next musical comedy “Nunsense,” which opens tonight. But not hot enough to die.
Larranaga, who plays the Reverend Mother, Sister Mary Regina, said that she is thrilled to finally be in a show where death isn’t an option.
“Of course, 52 people die before the show starts,” Larranaga said, who has been in “Sweeney Todd,” “Jekyll and Hyde” and “Titanic” on various local stages.
The deaths are the handiwork of Sister Julia, Child of God, a cook who happens to accidently poison a substantial amount of sisters with her cooking.
The tragedy leaves the convent in a pinch to fund the burials. The surviving sisters decide to host a variety show fundraiser to help.
Each sister seems to have a hidden talent of dancing, singing and even circus performing.
There will be plenty of surprises for audiences in this show directed by Bob Trisolini.
“The people who know of it love it because it’s so funny,” Larranaga said, who lives in Bradenton.
For her, the role has been one of the most physically-demanding because of the dancing. But that doesn’t stop the retired professional actress from having a good time.
While Larranaga, who wouldn’t give her age, is the oldest cast member in “Nunsense,” Bradenton resident Libby Fleming, 19, is the youngest. She plays Sister Mary Leo.
Being the youngest in the cast, Fleming didn’t grow up with “Nunsense,” but she was intrigued to hear the show featured a younger Sister who was dancer before nunhood. The role was right up her alley.
“I’m really enjoying it,” Fleming said of show rehearsals. “It’s a lot of fun. It’s very humorous. It has a lot of good jokes. I think it’s going to put a lot of smiles on people’s faces.”
The State College of Florida freshman, last seen in Manatee Players’ “Crazy For You,” has been dancing on and off for 15 years and has a background in ballet.
Fellow cast member Ellie Pattison, of Venice, plays Sister Mary Amnesia.
Pattison has huge affection for “Nunsense.” She grew up watching Semina De Laurentis, who originated Sister Amnesia’s role. She met the star at the equity dinner theater Pattison’s parents ran.
This is Pattison’s first time performing at the Manatee Players.
“Nunsense” debuted in New York in 1985. Theater-goers have embraced the show so much that several sequels followed.
They include “Nunsense II: The Second Coming,” “Sister Amnesia’s Country Western Nunsense Jamboree,” “Nuncrackers: The Nunsense Christmas Musical” and others.
The titles alone are amusing.
“It’s a fun show to do,” Larranaga said. “It’s just fluff and nunsense — no pun intended.”
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