Nunsense II: The Second Coming is a musical comedy with a book, music, and lyrics by Dan Goggin. This weekend, I had the most enjoyable experience watching the Poquoson Island Player’s opening night performance, at the Poquoson Middle School. Under the skillful and  comedic direction of Jonathan Manning we are presented with a fun and exciting evening of entertainment, where you realize that  Nuns Just Wanna Have Fun!

This was my first time attending a performance at the Poquoson Middle School, and I was instantly impressed with the actual space they have to work in. Because the story takes place in an auditorium, this space was a perfect fit. The set design by Marla Thompson and the inter-active staging make you feel like you were right in the middle of the mayhem of Mount Saint Helen’s School. An audience-participation bingo game is only one of the show's many highlights.

For those not familiar with the original Nunsense, the first of this series, I offer this little bit of back-story:  Five of the 19 surviving Little Sisters of Hoboken, discover that their cook, Sister Julia, Child of God, accidentally killed the other fifty-two residents of the convent with her tainted vichyssoise. Upon discovering the disaster, Mother Superior had a vision in which she was told to start a greeting card company to raise funds for the burials. The greeting cards were an enormous success and, thinking there was plenty of money, the Reverend Mother bought a plasma television for the convent, leaving her with no money in the kitty to pay for the last four burials. With the deceased nuns on ice in the deep freeze, they decide to stage a variety show in the Mount Saint Helen's School auditorium to raise the necessary amount.

This is where Nunsense II: The Second Coming picks up the story.  It takes place six weeks after the sisters have staged their first benefit. Participating in the project are Mother Superior Mary Regina (Kathleen Walden) , a former circus performer who cannot resist the spotlight; her competitive but dignified rival, second-in-command Sister Mary Hubert (Tyneka D. Stith); Sister Robert Anne (Laura Sullivan), a streetwise nun from Brooklyn; Sister Mary Leo (Maria King), a novice who is determined to be the world's first ballerina nun; and wacky, childlike Sister Mary Amnesia (Jane Martin), who lost her memory when a crucifix fell on her head. This time the grateful nuns are presenting a show to thank all the people who supported them in their freshman outing, but chaos erupts when two Franciscans come to claim Sister Mary Amnesia—who has won the Publishers Clearing House Sweepstakes - as one of their own, and the nuns learn a talent scout is in the audience to see them strut their stuff.

And STUT THEIR STUFF – THEY DID.  As an ensemble their camaraderie was both apparent and strong. Overall, they do a wonderful job collectively, but it’s their individual moments that truly leave an impression. Kathleen Walden performs  the number “Look Ma, I Made It” (complete with fans) showing her delightful side which is in direct contrast to the perpetually “worried” Reverend Mother; Maria King is incredibly sweet as the novice Sister Mary Leo and draws you into her “rolling” renditionof  “The Prima Ballerina”. Tyneka D. Stith impresses going from a rock-a-billy “What would Elvis Do” to her holy-rollin’, soulful rendition of the closing number “There’s Only One Way To End Your Prayers” where she rouses the audience in a sing-a-long revival of sorts.