The Director's Perspective (Nunsense)
The original copyright for Nunsense was issued in 1982. Even at that long-ago date, the number of teaching nuns in the parochial school systems was diminishing. Mr. Goggin's play was, I am sure, written as much with the desire to perpetuate his own memories of his early education as to leave a tribute to the ladies of the cloth who formed those memories. It is in this spirit that we of St. Dunstan's present the show for you this evening.
Those of us who were educated in parochial school faced a different challenge those many years ago. To get in trouble with "the nun" was to be in trouble at home. We marched in line to daily mass withered under the stern glare of " 'ster " when we bent the rules. But years later, those times are among our fondest memories. The rules were clear, and none wondered what was expected.
Why do we cherish these memories? That's simple! The ladies who supervised our passage through puberty loved us. Our education and recognition of order and discipline were their purpose in life.
We present tonight's show in the same spirit that Dan Goggin felt when he wrote Nunsense: A tribute to that group of fine educators many of us saw every day while we were growing up. For Margie and me (not Margie and I), Sister Mary Euphemia and Sister Mary Denis will live on as long as we use the past participle subjunctive correctly. Enjoy the show, and we hope it reminds many of their favorite teachers.
Jim Brooks
