THEATER REVIEW:’Catechism’ closing at Playhouse

All good things, they say, must come to an end, and the Laguna Playhouse has posted the closing notice for its dark night productions of “Late Nite Catechism” and its sequel, “Late Nite Catechism 2.”

When this one-nun exercise in improvisational comedy finally winds up Oct. 23 it will have wrapped up a three-year engagement of Sunday and Monday evenings in its various forms.

“Late Nite Catechism,” created in 1993 by Vicki Quade and Marypat Donovan, has “instructed” classes of playgoers all over the world. The show came to Laguna in the fall of 2003 “” and just stayed on. It eventually spawned “Late Nite Catechism 2” “” subtitled “Sometimes We Feel Guilty Because We Are Guilty” “” last year.

The original version will have been performed a total of 85 times at the end of October, and the sequel will have logged 54 presentations. More than 32,000 people will have seen both shows when they conclude their runs.

The formats are identical “” a nameless “Sister” conducts religious studies for a roomful of “students,” i.e., the audience. Those coming up with correct answers are rewarded with glow-in-the-dark rosaries and other trinkets, while “naughty” students may find themselves sitting in a corner on stage to reflect on their actions.

Donovan, the co-author and original Sister, opened the Laguna production in 2003 and returned for many subsequent appearances. Several other actresses have portrayed Sister over the three-year Laguna engagement.

The show’s legacy will live on, however. Last holiday season, the playhouse presented 10 sold-out performances of “Sister’s Christmas Catechism: The Mystery of the Magi’s Gold” by Donovan, Marc Silvia and Jane Morris. That comedy will be staged 23 more times from Nov. 19 through Dec. 24 of this year.

For the “homestretch run” of the catechism classes in Laguna, “Late Nite 1” will be presented Sept. 17 and 24 and Oct. 1. Performances of “Late Nite 2” are scheduled for Sept. 18 and 25 and Oct. 2, 9 and 23.

All performances are scheduled for 7:30 p.m. at the playhouse, 606 Laguna Canyon Road, Laguna Beach. Tickets are $43 and further information is available at the box office, (949) 497-2787.