International hit comedy coming to Fredonia Opera House

8/10/2006 - Catechism classes are never as much fun — or as hilarious — as when they are led by Sister in the international hit comedy “Late Nite Catechism” by Vicki Quade and Maripat Donovan.

“Late Nite Catechism” will be presented at the 1891 Fredonia Opera House Saturday at 8 p.m. It is the show’s first presentation in Western New York. “Late Nite Catechism” is a hysterical piece of theater that takes audience members back — sometimes nostalgically, sometimes fearfully — to the children they once were. The irrepressible “Sister” teaches an adult catechism class to a roomful of “students” (the audience). Over the course of the play, Sister goes from benevolent instructor, rewarding students for correct answers with glow-in-the-dark rosaries and laminated saint cards, to authoritarian drill sergeant. The New York Times calls “Late Nite Catechism” “uproarious interactive theater (that) speaks to an audience much broader than the membership of any one church.” “Late Nite Catechism” was nominated for an Outer Critics Circle Award in New York and won the L.A. Drama Critics Circle Award for Best Lead Performance for Maripat Donovan, who originated the role of Sister.

It since has played to sold-out audiences in New York, Seattle, San Francisco, St. Louis, Vancouver, New Orleans, Los Angeles and Chicago and recently played for two years in Boston and in Sydney and Melbourne, Australia. New York actress Lela Frechette will portray Sister in the Opera House production. Frechette recently completed a five-week run as Sister in “Sister’s Christmas Catechism” at The Baltimore Theatre Project. This past summer, she reprised the role of Mrs. McGillicudy in “The Dentist,” a role she originated when the show premiered in the 2002 NY Fringe Festival in New York. Prior to that, she played The Volunteer in the long-running Off-Broadway musical “A Stoop On Orchard Street.” In 2004, Frechette received an award for Best Actress in a Full Length Production for her portrayal of The Rebbetsin in “Golem Stories” as part of the 2003 Spotlight On! Halloween Festival. Her numerous other Off-Off-Broadway credits include Babe in “The Queen of Bingo” at the Sanford Meisner Theatre and Mair in “Northeast Local.” She also originated the role of Duke Senior in the gender-bending musical “All the World’s a Stage,” a Best-in-Fest winner at the 2002 Midtown International Theatre Festival. She has performed in New York with The Naked Pigeons, an improvisation and sketch comedy group. An accomplished singer, Frechette also has produced and performed her own cabaret act of songs and original characters in various New York area cabaret venues.

Tickets are $22 reserved seating ($20 for Opera House members). Purchase them at the Opera House Box Office or by calling 679-1891, Tuesday to Friday, 1 to 5 p.m. and Saturday, 2 to 5 p.m.

The event is made possible with public funds from NYSCA, a state agency, and the United Arts Appeal of Chautauqua County.

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