Once A Catholic

There was something for everyone in Mary O’Malley’s play Once A Catholic, including religion, sex, dogma, teenage angst and youthful rebellion. The Young Theatre under Cindy Lindy’s perceptive direction managed to blend the full gamut of adolescent emotions with great skill to produce a highly entertaining evening …

… The nuns, convincingly depicted by Niki Matthews, Nicky Anderson and Caitlin Bennet were not played simply for laughs. These were intelligent, committed and pious women … [and] Father Mullarky (Jamie Ivens) and Mr. Emanuelli (Peter Dixon) used the humour of their situations to set up the comedy rather than be at the centre of it …

Although all the students have identical Christian names (Mary, what else?) their diverse personalities provide the richest vein of humour particularly in the way in which the nuns misunderstand their naive questions about love, sex and anatomy.

The love interest (or the source’s sexual curiosity) convincingly played by teddy-boy Derek (Phil Macken) and the wordly-wise Cuthbert (Michael Ivens) produced some of the best laughs of the evening.

Fine ensemble acting, particularly by all the Marys, created a well-paced production … an enthusiastic audience clearly felt they’d had a rewarding and accomplished evening’s entertainment.

Were these young people up to the challenge of performing this hilariously written play? Yes, they were and they gave us a mature and confident performance.

The set was simple but effective with "hidden surprises" and … was very well supported by the costume and technical team …

Mother Peter (Niki Matthews), Mother Basil (Nicky Anderson) and Mother Thomas Acquinas (Caitlin Bennett) … all gave lovely performances. The scene when Mother Basil talks at quadruple speed was excellently delivered. The most outstanding performance has to be Father Mullarky (Jamie Ivens). His accent, facial expressions and timing were impeccable throughout. The girls resonded well to his desk thumping, all reacting in unison and all remaining in character throughout the sermons as they faced the audience …

… This was a most enjoyable evening finished off with a lovely finale - what fun. Congratulations everyone.