Orange County Register
By Paul Hodgins
New 'Late Nite Catechism' comes to Laguna
Sister has been good to Maripat Donovan.
"Sorry I missed your call," Donovan said when she picked up the phone on the interviewer's second attempt. "I was swimming in my pool." Who knew the wimple would lead to such wealth?
The phenomenon known as "Late Nite Catechism" is well into its second decade, and other Sisters (all of them as funny as she is, Donovan claims) have brought the franchise to theaters throughout the country. Donovan, its originator, still can't quite believe her good fortune.
"When I first started this in Chicago back in '93 I really had no idea how it would be received," said the writer-actress, who is putting the finishing touches on the show's latest incarnation, "'Til Death Do Us Part," which will make its world premiere this weekend at the Laguna Playhouse.
Donovan plays a sometimes stern but sharp-witted veteran nun with a mission: to remind wayward Catholics (and teach the rest of us) about the theories, practices, quirks and beliefs of her religion.
"Each of the shows is a series of classes that sister is teaching," Donovan explained. "In the first show (Late Nite Catechism") she's a substitute teacher. She does a basic overview of what people need to know.
"In my next show, I decided that she was such a good teacher that she has the job full-time. She has a lot of elements that she can bring in: her own banner, a film strip." Donovan focused a little more tightly on a subject: how to avoid going to hell.
Donovan's next show tackled the issues of Christmas.
"I cover the birth of Jesus and the Nativity – all the stuff that Catholics talk and argue about during the Christmas season."
"'Til Death Do Us Part" is a continuation of Sister's methodical analysis of the Sacraments. This time Sister concentrates on the rites and rituals surrounding marriage and death.
"It's definitely a continuance of the series. Sister tries something new in her teaching – she happens to think that this game show she's devised will teach you about compatibility." Donovan issues a warning: audience participation is a big part of the show.
IMPROV IS KEY
Improvisation has always been a crucial part of "Late Nite Catechism," Donovan said.
"When I first started, there was one interactive moment where I gave away a glow-in-the-dark rosary as a prize. That was it. But because I'm both the playwright and the performer I can pretty much do whatever I want, so I grew that element over the years. I always like to deal with people talking during the show, people coming in late, that kind of thing."
Donovan studied improvisation from early in her career, so she always felt comfortable with it as an element of the show. "After I gave myself permission to do it, it just grew and grew and grew."
Donovan has made sure that Sister modernized her teaching methods over the years as her instructional prowess developed. No more filmstrips for this up-to-the-minute nun.
"Sister has a laptop now. In this show she's checking her Facebook account before class. Sister has grown along with the culture and the technology."
Though Donovan's performances as Sister seem completely improvised and loose, she relies on director and collaborator Marc Silvia to help her structure her creation.
"He's been my director for a long time. He understands the character completely. He kind of prods me along and he helps me to be more organized; he's a good second ear. But in the end it's pretty much my voice, and he respects that."
Donovan has been trying out her new material for the last few weeks in a small theater in the South Bay, but she considers the Laguna Playhouse her home. Various "Late Nite Catechism" incarnations have been offered there for years as a nonsubscription event that played on off nights, usually Mondays. Their popularity prompted the Playhouse to give Sister a slot on its regular season, Donovan said.
"The Playhouse has always felt like my home theater. It's a beautiful place; the staff is spectacular. They know how to put butts in seats.
"And audiences there know how to have a good time, yet they're not obnoxious. They just want to laugh and have fun with you."
Has Donovan's freewheeling show ever gotten into trouble with audiences that were, well, too participatory?
"The only place I've had trouble with an audience is in New York. Everyone is out to prove that they're funnier than me. And guess what? They never are."
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