714 attend 'Catechism' class at River Campus

The audience attending Friday evening's performance of "Late Night Catechism" learned quickly the first rule of Sister's catechism class.

Be on time.

With the ushers at the Southeast Missouri State University River Campus serving as accomplices, those entering the theater after the start time were directed to the stage to explain to Sister and the audience of 714 just why they were late. After the mock humiliation, they were instructed by Sister to give her a dollar before taking their seats.

And so the tone was set for an evening of comedy that was part improvisational and part stand-up. Actress Kimberly Richards ruled the "class" in a one-woman show that uses the loose structure of religious instruction to engage in an exchange with the audience. The house lights remained on for the entire performance.

Frequently the interaction between Sister and her class involved some form of discipline. Sister corrected audience members not only for being late, but for offenses such as gum chewing, wearing hats and low necklines. Women showing a little cleavage were handed a tissue to cover the exposed area. When Sister spotted a woman showing more than just a little, the audience roared with laughter as she pulled a plastic bib out of her desk.

Sue Nunnally of Chaffee, Mo., has now seen Richards portray Sister in "Catechism" four times.

"She is really good at what she does," Nunnally said. "When one person can entertain you for two solid hours, she's pretty good."

Richards, who began in "Catechism" in 2001, estimates that she has played Sister about 1,300 times. She said the improvisational aspect of the show makes each performance unique.

"The audience really drives the feeling of it," Richards said. "If you came to the show every single night, week after week, you would never see the same show twice."

For Dan Essner of Cape Girardeau, who calls himself "a cradle Catholic," the performance brought back memories of his religious instruction classes.

"I could definitely relate to the whole show," Essner said.

But those in the audience who are not Catholic, such as Mike and Peg Wolf of Sedgewickville, Mo., enjoyed the show just as much.

"It was just hilarious," Mike Wolf said.

Ivan and Betty McLain of Chaffee came to see "Catechism" hoping for some laughs and were not disappointed.

"It was really a good comedy, I thought," Ivan McLain said. Betty McLain said she would "definitely recommend it."

Much of the comedy revolved around religious instruction. The class discussed a list of saints and talked about whether they should be deleted from the list. One of the saints on the potential chopping block was Joseph, husband of Mary.

"You can't take Joseph off the list," Sister said. "Think of all the Nativity sets you'd have to replace."

While Catholicism is the butt of many of the jokes during "Catechism," the comedy is presented in a good-natured, respectful way. In fact, Richards said the play has been a vehicle to assist local orders of retired nuns. She estimates that she has helped to raise about $750,000 through the years to benefit retired sisters.