Is Being the Understudy a Sin?

Went to the La Mirada Theatre for the Performing Arts tonight to see "Sister's Christmas Catechism -- The Mystery of the Magi's Gold."

I've read about "Late Nite Catechism" created by Maripat Donovan for years, but have never been to see it. When I heard about this Christmas themed version of the show -- starring the originator of the role "Sister", Maripat Donovan -- I jumped to get tickets.

It's a very funny take on growing up Catholic, Catholic schools, nuns, etc. Given the years I spent going to church with Grandmother Green I thought it was especially funny when the audience started clapping at one point and Sister admonished us with, "Stop that. We're not Baptists." How true, how true.

The photo above is from near the end of the show when several audience members have been brought on stage to create a Nativity Scene. One particularly troublesome audience member was invited to play "the Ass."

At one point in the show someone's cellphone started to ring. Sister asked "the Christian Soldier" with the ringing cellphone to identify themselves. When that didn't work she offered a prize to "the Christian Soldier sitting next to the person with a ringing cellphone" for "ratting out their neighbor."

My only disappointment was Maripat Donovan didn't play "Sister" tonight. She performed this afternoon and her voice was scratchy, so the understudy went on tonight. Nonie Newton-Breen was great in the role, but I still want to see Maripat Donovan do it.