Sit up straight, spit out that gum and get ready to feel guilty — the Sister is back. New Orleans native Amanda Hebert returns for the second installment of Maripat Donovan’s “Late Nite Catechism 2” on Saturday, April 2 at 8 p.m. at the Union Theater. Sponsored by the Union Program Council’s Lively Arts Committee, the play is structured like an adult catechism class with Hebert as its teacher. Part scripted and part improvisational, Sister calls upon the audience just as a nun teaching Sunday school would.
Steven Harris, production manager of Entertainment Events Inc., the company presenting the play, said “Late Nite Catechism 2” follows the same format as its prequel, but is a uniquely different play.
“This time Sister is conducting a class on sin, hell, purgatory and penance and relates it to the children’s game Chutes and Ladders,” he said. “It’s a loving look at the Catholic Church by way of the parochial school.”
Harris said Sister uses a variety of teaching tools such as a filmstrip, handouts and audience participation in an unscripted question and answer session. Hebert’s background in comedy and theater gives her an edge in the role of Sister, Harris said.
“She’s willing to take on any subject and carries it with authority, class and great humor,” he said.
Harris said the play has wide appeal because guilt is universal and the play injects comedy into a very serious emotion.
“Guilt is in all of our lives — whether it’s Catholic guilt, Jewish guilt, German guilt — everyone deals with guilt,” he said. “And guilt can induce some very comedic actions, all of which Sister expounds on in this play.”
Lively Arts Chair Gabe Vander Hey said Late Nite Catechism 2 was selected through a detailed selection process that begins with audience surveys. An overwhelming positive response from the first installment of Late Nite Catechism was a deciding factor in the selection, said Vander Hey.
“It will be more catered to our audience than any of her shows in other cities,” he said. “Louisiana Catholics are almost like their own breed, and she gets it because she’s from New Orleans.”
Rhonda Dunaway, assistant director of Union Programs and advisor of Lively Arts, said this performance will be especially meaningful to the committee because they designed and decorated the set.
“Other committees [within UPC] create events from scratch; Lively Arts usually just brings in touring acts,” Dunaway said. “Not only is it a great show, but it is also a chance for us to provide opportunities within our committee for students interested in the other aspects of performance.”
Tickets are on sale at the Union Box Office or at www.ticketmaster.com.