'Sister's Christmas Catechism' brings more nun-sense to River Campus on Sunday

Actress Kimberly Richards, whose one-woman comedy "Late Nite Catechism" delighted the audience at the River Campus in November 2010 and January 2008, returns to the Cape Girardeau stage Sunday evening to reprise the role of "Sister" in a holiday-themed version of the play.

"Sister's Christmas Catechism: The Mystery of the Magi's Gold" will again turn the Bedell Performance Hall into a catechism class of several hundred. In this production, Sister dons her habit and crucifix again, this time to teach the story of the Nativity. As was the case with "Late Night Catechism," the audience will play a prominent role in the entertainment.

"Act one is about Mary," Richards said. "In act two, we build a living nativity." The roles of Mary, Joseph, the Magi and livestock will be played by -- you guessed it -- members of the audience. Ten people from the audience will come onstage.

"It's the biggest participation show that we have," she said.

Photo ops will be plentiful, according to Richards.

"Picture-taking is forbidden during most theatrical productions," Richards said. "We will encourage it."

As the subtitle "The Mystery of the Magi's Gold" suggests, Sister and the class try to answer a question that has perplexed scholars for more than 2,000 years: What happened to the gold brought to Jesus by the three gift-bearers from the East?

You might call it "Nancy Drew Goes to Bethlehem."

The return of Sister to the Bedell stage was a matter of responding to popular demand, said River Campus assistant director Bob Cerchio.

"We got tremendous feedback from 'Late Nite Catechism,'" Cerchio said about last year's production.

"We had several people come to the box office that night and say how much they enjoyed it and wanted us to book the Christmas show."

Cerchio said less than 50 tickets remain for "Sister's Christmas Catechism," raising the possibility of a sellout.

When informed of the hot ticket sales, Richards said, "That's big love. I couldn't be happier."

"Late Nite Catechism" opened in 1992, while the holiday spinoff began its run in 2006.

Both shows are produced by New York-based Entertainment Events Inc. The original was written by Vicki Quade and Maripat Donovan. Donovan wrote "Sister's Christmas Catechism" along with Jane Morris and Marc Silvia.

Those who were in attendance at "Late Nite Catechism" remember the rules by which Sister runs her classroom. For those not aware, here is fair warning:

If you show up after the play starts, you may get escorted by an usher to the stage to give Sister a dollar.

Don't chew gum if you don't want to be reprimanded. Men, don't wear your ball caps in the classroom. Women, watch your cleavage.

And lastly, whatever you do, don't call Sister "ma'am."

Pertinent address:

518 South Fountain, Cape Girardeau, MO