Sister sets students straight in 'Late Night'

What comes to mind when someone mentions the word "comedy?" "The Simpsons?" "Everybody Loves Raymond?" "Dave Chappelle?" What if one woman's response was "Catholic school?"

"Late Nite Catechism" is coming to Wilson Hall Friday and Saturday at 7:30 p.m. This one-woman stand-up comedy routine earned rave reviews in many publications across the country, including The Oakland Tribune, who hailed it "Holy rolling in the aisles."

Created by Vicki Quade and Maripat Donovan, the traveling show features a Catholic nun appropriately named Sister, who is teaching an adult catechism class.

The audience receives an interactive experience by playing the role of her class. Sister, played by professional actress Amanda Herbert, goes from being a kind instructor to an authoritative drill sergeant.

"The audience of 'Late Nite Catechism' is her adult class boning up on Roman Catholic doctrine, and she allows no nonsense," said The New York Times' D.J.R. Bruckner in a 1996 article. Latecomers are fined, gum-chewers get a glare and a tissue and everyone is ordered to stand when called upon and to begin every response with 'Sister.'

The show was brought to JMU as part of the College of Arts & Letters Encore series. "To anyone who's been to Catholic school, it's like reliving your childhood," said Jerry Weaver, executive assistant to the dean of the College of Arts & Letters. "You don't have to be Catholic to enjoy the show. Any denomination would enjoy it."

The show would interest JMU students for a variety of reasons. Many students have had Catholic school upbringings, making the show even more relatable.

"I like it because it deals with a subject that most people are familiar with, but makes it comical without being excessively offensive," said sophomore Deanna Yuille, who had seen a television production of the play.

Tickets are on sale at the Wilson Hall Box Office. Tickets are $22 for adults, $20 for seniors and $11 for children or with a JAC card. For more information or tickets call x8-7000.

More information about the traveling show can be found at www.latenitecatechism.com.