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Laughs in 'Vatican II'
aren't just for Catholics

Kathy Cogan, a favorite of local theatergoers, charms them again with a one-woman show full of wit and verve.

It would be a sin to miss "Vatican II: What the Hell Happened?"

Kathy Cogan opened her hilarious one-woman show Friday night at the Civic Center of Greater Des Moines' Stoner Studio Theater with a rarely seen vitality and charisma that won the audience over instantly.

Cogan starred for years in "Late Nite Catechism" and had such a great time here that she opted to open her new show at the Civic Center. The opening-night crowd welcomed her back like an old friend.

"Vatican II," which Cogan wrote, comes across as a slightly less in-your-face version of "Catechism," which had a knuckle-rapping nun with an iron ruler.

Here the character is chatty St. Nicholas choir director Margaret Mary O'Malley, trying to persuade the Dexterville Town Council not to bulldoze her beloved church to make way for a SuperMart. (The church is only leasing the land, something Cogan should want to mention earlier in the show.)

You don't have to be Catholic to enjoy the comedy of "Vatican II," a part stand-up, part audience-interaction piece in which Margaret ponders meatless Fridays, hats in church, her first confession, and her treasured white Communion dress and matching pocketbook.

"The priest and the guy who owns the hardware store are now giving me the sacraments," she laments. "I just bought a socket wrench from him and now he's giving me Communion?"

The first act covers most of the sacraments, then pauses for the citizens of Dexterville (the audience) to vote on whether to save the church. Make sure you vote - Margaret will work you over harder than a Chicago ward boss if you fail to cast a ballot during intermission.

The second act is more loosely structured, feeding off citizen questions and wrapping up the rest of the sacraments. It works quite well - the few jokes that misfire are breezed past quickly, while Cogan knows how to let the successful zingers feed off themselves for a few moments.

Conwell Worthington II and Michael Coleman have assembled a slick, technically sophisticated show packed with multiple audio and lighting cues, a very funny multimedia presentation by Margaret to the council, and detailed set.

It's Cogan's gift for improv and her crafting of Margaret that make "Vatican II" so enjoyable. Margaret, with her outgoing and slightly scatterbrained nature, has an instant rapport with the audience; it's the town council that will take a bit longer for her to convert.

Christians, non-Christians and even atheists will find plenty of laughs in "Vatican II." And Catholics, well, they'll laugh so hard their stomachs will hurt - and then they'll feel guilty about it later.

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