The Gazette from Montreal, Quebec, Canada • 47

D3 COMEDY FESTIVAL ister act careiully onencls no one No anti-church satire, Late Nite Catechism is a 'little fluffy love ball for says creator THE GAZETTE, MONTREAL, SATURDAY, JULY 8, 2000 Maripat Donovan may not be a real nun. But over the phone from Los Angeles this week she sounded like one tough cookie of a Mother Superior on a bad day. What did I say wrong? I foolishly sug-; gested that someone, somewhere might take offence at her Late Nite Cat-I echism, a one-woman comedy opening Tuesday at Centaur Theatre as part of the Just for Laughs Festival. Actually, the main criticism I had heard about the show in ad cAuSt vance was that it carefully avoided rattling any stained-glass inn Late Nite Catechism, which Donovan co-wrote with VickiQuade, premiered in Donovan's home town of Chicago in 1993 and she's been playing the teaching-nun role pretty wellnon-stop since then. Doesn't she ever get tired of it? "No," she replied.

"Because it's not a regular play. If I was doing Hamlet, by the fourth month I'd be in there thinking, 'Boy, I'd better change that cat box when I get home. But because this is interactive, it's different every night. And you have to pay attention. You're in it.

You're the only thing. The audience is the other characte, and you never know what they're going to do. "The show can change according to what their name is, what their confirmation name is, if they're wearing a short skirt, if they're chewing gum, if they went to Catholic school. It could go a million different ways." Once you've portrayed Sister to a convention audience of 12,000 religious educators (as Donovan did in Anaheim, the appeal of playing other roles, in other plays, is minimal. "Why would you give up the lead part in a one-woman show to take on a smaller part in another Donovan said.

"This is the best you can possibly get. As a performer, there's nothing better than this." Furthermore, she's choosy about runs. "I have approval on all the actresses," Donovan explained. "It's an important thing. I have artistic control." No male performers need apply.

As long as there is breath in her body, Late Nite Catechism will be a gal thing. Why not guys? "Because that's drag," she said. "And this is a real character." Donovan has come to identify with nuns, especially those shortchanged by the social-security system. For years, the Roman Catholic Church in the United States didn't pay into pension funds on their behalf and many nuns have been left aged and destitute. So far, Donovan has raised $500,000 for the cause.

"My main hobby is collecting money for those nuns," she said. Will there ever be a seq uel to Late Nite Catechism? "It's kind of its own sequel," Donovan replied. The script is never frozen; local references get added to the blend. Besides, "I think this show has another 10 years to it," she said. "There a lot of Catholics out there." Late Nite Catechism opens Tuesday at Centaur Theatre, 453 St.

Francois Xavier and continues until July 23. Tickets cost between $18 and $32. Please call (514) 288-3161 or (514) 790-1245 for more informationor tickets. I -fc Donovan, a for- 1 1 fi II mer general con-SlU'iIllJ tractor and house ff renovator who PAT DONNELLY THEATRE Point taken. Donovan does not want her show filed under the knock-the-Church genre.

"This is a wonderful loving portrayal of our religious sisters and our relationship with them," she continued, full steam. "This is not a knock at the Catholic Church at all- in any way, shape or form. Never, ever would I want it to be portrayed that way" So she's not out to rile anybody? "Absolutely not. We're out to have a good time and laugh and remember things together," said the 16-year veteran of Catholic schooling. "A good time is all it's about.

It's not a razor-sharp satire. It's a little fluffy love ball for nuns. It has nothing to do with being disrespectful." At the same time, you don't have to -be Catholic to enjoy it, she said, any more than you have to be Jewish to enjoy Fiddler on the Roof was on her way to the vet when I called, took exception to the idea that she might be out to attack the Catholic Church. "If I can do it for the cardinal of the Archdiocese of Los Angeles and he can come up to me and say 'This is wonderful, I loved I think it's pretty clean," she replied sternly, "If I can do it for 250 sisters of St. Agnes at their mother house for their convention and have every one of them tell me it's wonderful, I don't think it's offensive." COURTESY OF JUST FOR LAUGHS Maripat Donovan: Sister of mercy for elderly destitute nuns.

who gets to join her novitiate. Donovan performs mainly in Los Angeles now. Others have taken up the tours and the extended runs in other cities. Late Nite Catechism has become a world-wide phenomenon. Thirteen touring companies continue to cross North America.

The Boston, Sydney and Melbourne shows recently closed after two-year SEC I "We're talking a hit, we're "Amazing singing, infectious Is a spectacular, I iS tiwHmimii ii feffflaAranii.irtnii. I talking mega huge" laughter, and the heat of the raucous and sweaty evening of i wm'V I I -THE GUARDIAN beat which sets your brain on South African song and dance I "Jv, ICWIM whose energy left the audience I lLVIr J' "An irresistible on stage -THE GUARDIAN clamouring for more!" 1 ryflMffir? I Em ft rf energy. An infectious cocktail SCOTLAND ON SUNDAY 1 Z''l'. JjLiV 1 "7' of music and dance" "One of this year's most Gala 6 JUIIIUU -thetimes innovative and seductive "A STANDARD if5F ASMRT0F J) "Spectacular, raucous evening THE SCOTTISH EXPRESS 1 The King of Queens himself hosts SSl nfcnnffanHitawo" Loto.QuebecGala6.with 9 ,0 30 1 AN EVENING WITH -THE LONDON Salle Plerre-Mercure (514) 987-6919 mmmmi i 1 "mSH Joey Ellas, Montreal's own EVENING STANDARD Admission (514) 790-1245 BIHfl fllBffllfiiilai Mr jrP5(tfi slSSriL mTeny Jones Jf THU behind the scenes anecdotes and "'Mvi rt iS aYlYJLSsv-9lj s' iruiidiiici iv 15 jar uti Loto-Qubec Gala 7, with a stellar line-up including: iifel 0Hanlin. from Father Ted a te2otn century wonae uncanny -Hallucinogenic- i the door only) 1 NEW YORK TIMES SAN FRANCISCO CHRONICLE I $10txsincl.

I I 'I A -As lit a nth ronturu twnnHor an unrannu experience" THE NEW YORK TIMES -i. a I sfAwdrous 'Astonishingly inventive" SAN FRANCISCO EXAMINER it's nothing you've ever seen before" EW5DAY Dave Broadfoot, Royal Canadian Air farce founding member Sean Culled, Canadian comedy star John Pfnette, Tonight Show veteran Sheryt Underwood, Comedy's boldest woman Glen Foster, Canadian favourite and more! Special extended set by latino sensation Paul Rodriguez FOR MORE INFORMATION, CONSULT THE INFO BELL SERVICES July 10 to 30 art THE VILLAGE VOICE 11 on.m.innoi. rnm QT1.99U i Admission: (514) 790-1245 -Tgue magic" the new york times 514 790-HAHA wwrw.hahaha.com ERIC FRI 1 By VICKI QUADE MARIPAT DONOVAN Starring Wmln JUST FOR LAUGHS THEATRE in conjunction with ENTERTAINMENT EVENTS present Bala 8 MARIPAT DONOVAN Directed by PATRICK TRETTENERO Are you a goer? Eh? Knowhatamean? Founding member of Monty Python, Eric Idle hosts Loto-Quebec Gala 8, with a top lineup of comedy talent Featuring: mm Pick up a good habit and experience a laugh-filled evening for all cultures. 4 classes and religions. This playful send-up or a catnonc classroom is an Jeff Rothpan, Tonight Show veteran Susie Essman, returning Festival favourite Brent Butt, Vancouver's Canuck comic Rich Hall, Letterman favourite Dave Chippelle, star of the movies Half Baked and The Nutty Professor and many more! uproanous trip down rosary lane; a theological theatre piece where the audience becomes the class.

1 1 tn Admission: (514) 790-1245 Centaur Theatre: (514) 288-3161 Tim Allen Gala 9 LOUIE I SUN Gala ion nderson Norman Rockwell Is Bleeding Christopher Titus Come see the show that inspired the hit television series, Titus, described by Time Magazine as "brutal, hilarious and audacious." It proves that From The New Family feud. Sv THE FESTIVAL comedy is cheaper than therapy. returning as host of Loto-Quebec Gala jo, with Tommy Tienua, Irish standup star MoKique, powerhouse, from The Parkers -r A July 18 to 23 David Jolw HkCarthey, local stand up success story Admission (514) 790-1245 ba talented Canadian comic, now LA Craig Sboenaker, the Lovemaster himsetf Centaur Theatre (514) 288-3161 and many more! Canada QjebecSS MontrM.