“Late Nite Catechism: The Sequel” arrives

TOM TITUS

Ask anyone who has survived a Catholic school education and he or she

probably will tell you that it wasn’t much fun. Reliving that

experience, however, by attending a performance of “Late Nite

Catechism” would be quite a bit of fun.

The dark night production that kept Laguna Playhouse audiences

chuckling for two seasons finally has run its course. But, just when

you thought it was safe to go back into the classroom, here comes

“Late Nite Catechism II” or “Sometimes We Feel Guilty Because We ARE

Guilty.”

Maripat Donovan, who created the original “Catechism” 13 years

ago, has come up with the sequel, and she kicked it off herself when

the summer-long (at least) program opened at the playhouse July 11.

This time around, the accent is on penance and navigating the

circuitous route to heaven.

The new version isn’t quite the howler the original was, but there

are some terrific comic moments. When Sister explains the concept of

miracles, for instance, she emphasizes that “finding a parking place

in Laguna Beach doesn’t qualify as a miracle.”

This time around, there is more interaction with the audience as

Sister encourages questions and reaches for a well-honed zinger in

response. And woe betide the “student” who precedes his question with

anything but “Sister...”

After insuring that her female questioners’ blouses are properly

buttoned and their bare arms covered (ladies, raise your hands at

your own risk), Sister proceeds to set them straight on the path to

heaven, the Ten Commandments and those personages doomed to fire and

brimstone for eternity.

One such miscreant who received special sisterly attention is

Frank Sinatra, whose sexual escapades seem to have greased the slide

into the hot zone. Sister devotes a particularly extended segment

(one of the few apparently scripted portions of her show) to the

damnation of Old Blue Eyes.

She also comes up with a litany of “new sins,” such as road rage,

excessive use of television, computer games or the Internet,

inappropriate entertainment on Sunday, and telling or listening to

dirty jokes. It would seem that heaven is going to be a pretty lonely

place.

Laughs abound, but Sister appears more serious, and certainly more

judgmental this time around. And whether she reins for a full two

years, as her first show did, she’ll be back in late November with

“Sister’s Christmas Catechism, the Mystery of the Magi’s Gold.” Or,

as the publicity puts it, “CSI Bethlehem.”