Community theater changes play after abbey shootings

MARYVILLE, Mo. -- Next year, perhaps, a musical comedy about death in a Roman Catholic community will be funny again in Northwest Missouri.

But not now.

The Nodaway Community Theater Co. has canceled its summer performances of "Nunsense" in light of a Kearney man's June 10 attack on nearby Conception Abbey.

Lloyd Robert Jeffress, 71, shot and killed two monks -- the Rev. Philip Schuster, 85, and Brother Damian Larson, 62 -- and wounded two others before killing himself in the abbey's Basilica of the Immaculate Conception.

"Given the shootings and all that's going on in the Catholic Church, it's not the time to be making fun of the faith," said Jody Strauch, the theater company president.

The musical comedy focuses on five nuns' efforts to raise money to bury four of their sisters who died of food poisoning.

"The premise is fun, but if anyone took offense to it, we'd feel terrible," co-producer Nina Dewhirst said. "It's a wonderful play, but it's just not the right vehicle at this time."

The nonprofit organization's leaders chose "Nunsense" for their annual summer production several months ago and had costumes and props ready. They were able to return the scripts and receive a $1,200 reimbursement for the play's royalties.

The cast met for its second rehearsal on the night of the shootings.

"What happened had to be discussed," director Grant Bennett said. "I thought it could still work because the focus of the play isn't dead clergy, but showing that nuns are human and are fun."

But one of the actresses, who had known the slain monks at the abbey, had reservations that persuaded officials to cancel the production.

"It hurt too much at the time," Bennett said. "And there was concern about the community's reaction. The impact has lessened, but there's still a gap in the community. So laughing at this might have felt a little wrong so soon."

The group plans to produce "Nunsense" next year. In the meantime, practices are under way for its replacement, the mystery "Murder in the Wings," scheduled to be performed July 27 and 28.