Above pic : The cast with director Chrissie McIntyre
The punch tastes really good! Philomena (Jenny Anderson), Mother Superior (Maggie Scott) and Sister Augusta (Tonia Davis) in Tom Smith’s DRINKING HABITS
American playwright Tom Smith’s farce DRINKING HABITS was written in 1988. The action takes place in a small convent known as the Sisters of Perpetual Sewing. Quite the name!
The play starts with us seeing two nuns, Sisters Augusta and Philamena, sewing but also making wine to raise funds to keep the struggling church open.
Two local reporters, Sally and Paul, have heard that something like this might be happening at the convent, and decide to investigate. Sally, in particular, is ambitious to further her career.
The two intrepid journos go undercover. Paul pretends to be a priest, Sally pretends to be a nun.
Things are further complications when another new nun arrives, and there is suspicion that she might be a spy. Further heating up the situation is that the Mother Superior has heard that the Vatican is looking at closing down convents a that aren’t pulling their weight.
Rest assured, there is nothing remotely deep and meaningful about this play. It is a laugh out loud farce with many door slamming moments, mistaken identities, hiding places and fast paced comedy. There is one wonderful scene towards the end of the play which features all of the cast exchanging all of their different identities.
Chrissie McIntyre’s production mines the play’s rich source of humour to good effect. The stage world is well set up by designers; Wayne Chee’s very functional set, Chee also covered the lighting, Peter Tucker did the sound, and costume designers, Jay Randall, Jennifer Willison and Brooke Harris.
The cast gave relaxed, authentic performances in spirit with this sunny play. Jenny Anderson played the devout, still humorous Sister Philamena who found it difficult to be a little devious.
Tonia Davis played Sister Augusta, the other winemaker. She is also dedicated to the church but with a more assertive nature than Philamena.
Maggie Scott, stage veteran in so many aspects, as an Artistic Director (Insomniac Theatre Company), director and actor, played the wily Mother Superior, who has been in charge of the convent for many years and actually can’t stand alcohol!
Luke Baweja portrayed the very effusive, too much so, the convent caretaker and gardener, who somehow always got entangled in the main events.
Gabrielle Rawlings and Michael Mulvenna played Sally and Paul, who did well playing not only two reporters chasing a story, but two young people who had been romantically involved, and will more than likely be again.
Sarah Croake gave an effervescent comic performance as the novice Sister Mary Catherine.
Alan Long gave a quirky, understated comic portrayal of Father Chenille, a priest from the local parish next to the convent. He is caring, a little clumsy and boasted that at time he was a magician. One suspects that he probably, more than likely, hadn’t been a good magician!
This is often performed play with good reason. It is high spirited, and features plenty of hearty laughs.
A Hunters Hill Theatre company production, Tom Smith’s DRINKING HABITS is playing the Hunter’s Hill theatre on the 7th December 2025. There are a lot of performances to come. Remaining performances are Friday 21 November at 7.30pm, Saturday 22 November at 2pm, Sunday 23 November at 2pm, Friday 28 November at 7.30pm, Saturday 29 November at 2pm, Sunday 30 November at 2pm, Friday 5 December are 7.30pm, Saturday 6 December at 2pm and the final performance on Sunday 7 December at 2pm.
Huntershilltheatre.com.au
Production photography by Dan Ferris Photography
