The charming tale of Sister Amnesia and her journey to becoming a country music star will once again grace the stage in Lilydale, as Nunsense Jamboree prepares to open on 20 November.
For lead actress, Fiona Carter, stepping back into the habit of Sister Amnesia wasn’t just another role; it was a familiar, joyous reunion.
Returning to Sister Amnesia, having first played her in Nunsense I in 1996, in the latest instalment of the beloved nun-centric musical series, she was brimming with the high-spirited energy of the production.
“It’s mostly just fun,” Fiona said.
“There are a lot of songs, and there’s dancing, and it’s really interesting to hear more stories about the nuns and where they came from and why they became nuns.”
This particular show is the third in the series, following the original Nunsense I and II and the later Nuncrackers.
It delves deeper, revealing the histories of the beloved characters, while still promising the audience a light-hearted escape.
The original storylines follow Sister Amnesia winning the lottery in the first show and dealing with mob-affiliated brothers in the second.
This narrative arc in Nunsense Jamboree sees Sister Amnesia return from Nashville, where she recorded her first album, I Could’ve Gone to Nashville.
“We remind the audience of some other nuns who aren’t with us, but are named, and that’s a bit of fun to bring them up. And we’ve got a new nun, and we’ve got a new brother in this one that we haven’t had before,” Fiona said.
For those unfamiliar with the earlier shows, Fiona reassured, “It works both ways.”
The script also has a “little refresher” line: ‘You all do know that Sister blah, blah, blah… and a little bit of what happened there’ to ensure the new audience can keep up, but Fiona emphasised the story was designed to “stand on its own”.
Exploring Sister Amnesia once again was a pure delight for the actress. Fiona was playing her for the umpteenth time, a role that had become like an old friend.
“She’s childlike and she’s innocent, and she loves people. She really does.”
Fiona admitted the character’s amiable nature made the role “slightly easier” because it mirrored her own personality.
The musical challenge has been exhilarating for Fiona, though one song from the first show was repeated with slightly altered lyrics, a tricky hurdle to overcome decades of muscle memory.
“The rhyming is good, the melodies are good, and there’s lovely, lovely harmonies.”
Adding to the excitement was a brilliant new choreographer, making the movement “interesting to watch, and active”, and “that matches the songs”.
Working under the experienced direction of Alan Burrows has helped shape the nuances of the familiar character, particularly with the addition of a ‘country accent’ detail.
“It’s really good having a director who says, ‘Right, I want you to do this, this way and that, that way.’ Because the director’s vision is really important for it to be cohesive,” Fiona said,
“Alan is a terrific director, experienced and knowledgeable and very good at getting you to build the characters so that we know why she says what she says and does what she does.”
As the year draws to a close and as the last show of the year, Fiona offered a final, heartfelt invitation to potential theatre-goers.
“It’s a really light-hearted way to finish the year with so many horrible things happening around the world and so much negativity.”
This play, she promised, is “simple, easy to watch and listen to…to walk away smiling.”
With opening night this week, Fiona is spending every day in practice, her brain full of lines, songs, and dances.
Don’t miss Nunsense Jamboree, opening Thursday 20 November and closing Saturday 6 December. Visit: lilydaleatc.com or call the Box Office on 9735 1777 to book your ticket.
