Nunsense Makes Perfect Sense for Dio Girls

For Immediate Release
23 April 2009

Nunsense Makes Perfect Sense for Dio Girls

Diocesan students Lucy Milsom, Madeleine Warren, Anna Ladd in the school’s production of Nunsense

Old habits don’t die hard for Diocesan School for Girls.

The all-girls Anglican school is gearing up for its run of Nunsense, the modern musical comedy and Broadway hit featuring nuns who show off their eclectic talents when they are forced to stage a fund-raising variety show.

The nuns are the only Little Sisters of Hobeken Convent who survive after the rest of their sisterhood succumbs to botulism when they eat vichyssoise made by Sister Julia, Child of God, the convent cook.

The remaining sisters stage their Nunsense show when they run out of money to bury the last four of their dearly departed.

The nuns may be dressed in traditional habits, but Nunsense features music by Dan Goggin in a huge variety of styles, much of it far from traditional. Over-the-top performances only heighten the hilarity as the nuns’ show comes seriously unstuck.

Diocesan has brought in well-known Auckland director Simon Coleman to direct the 35-strong cast of senior students. The school’s performing arts director, David Gordon, is musical director and Dio parent and former professional dancer Sheryl Orchard, who has toured with Russian ballet superstar Rudolf Nureyev, has choreographed the show.

Coleman, who recently created the puppets and props for the production of The Arrival at the Auckland Festival, has directed several different secondary school performances during the last 10 years.

“This is a real song and dance show with lots of comedy. It is really showing off the great talents of the Dio girls,” says Coleman, who is enjoying the challenge of working on the large scale mega-musical version of Nunsense.

David Gordon says Nunsense was a good choice because it explores people’s foibles, ambitions and dreams.

“I like to choose shows that don’t patronise the students and this one has a lot of sophisticated humour.”

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