‘Catechism’ begins second year at playhouse

Tom Titus

Well, it’s official. The one-nun comedy “Late Nite Catechism” is now

in its second year at the Laguna Playhouse.

An unprecedented ninth holdover notice was posted for the popular

Monday night session, which has been holding forth since “Harvey”

opened the regular season a year ago this month. The unofficial

closing date now is Oct. 21.

Laguna audiences clearly are getting into the habit. Repeat

business can be the only way to explain this phenomenon.

“‘Late Nite Catechism’ brings to our theater many people who have

never been to the playhouse before, so we’re very glad to be able to

introduce them to the experience of coming here,” commented Richard

Stein, the theater’s executive director.

“While it’s clear that many of the theater goers are Catholic,

quite a few of whom attended parochial school as children, the

remarkable thing is that ‘Late Nite Catechism’ really has a universal

appeal in the same way that borscht-belt Jewish comedy has, and

audiences of all persuasions roar with laughter under Sister’s

commanding presence,” Stein noted.

Meanwhile, Lagunans who love to laugh have another wacky show to

look forward to. The playhouse just announced that Steve Martin’s

comedy “The Underpants” will fill the theater’s April 2 to May 1

slot.

Martin, who also wrote the popular “Picasso at the Lapin Agile,”

staged at the playhouse in 1999, adapted “The Underpants” from Carl

Sternheim’s 1910 play of the same name.

It’s described as a wild and crazy (what else? This is, after all,

Steve Martin) sex farce centered on a stuffed-shirt bureaucrat who is

scandalized by his wife’s wayward pair of knickers. The show will be

directed by playhouse artistic director Andrew Barnicle, who also

staged Martin’s “Picasso” four years ago.

The playhouse also announced that it will move up its Southern

California premiere production of Naomi Iizuka’s “36 Views,” which

now is ticketed for a Jan. 1 to 30 engagement. Director and

playwright Chay Yew will stage the Laguna production.

Other attractions in the playhouse’s 2004-05 season include this

weekend’s opener, “Tuesdays With Morrie,” the West Coast premiere of

“Constant Star” and another West Coast premiere, “Bright Ideas.” One

additional play to be announced later will complete the playhouse’s

lineup.

* TOM TITUS reviews local theater for the Coastline Pilot.