Once A Catholic actors: Kerrie Kilpatrick, Elizabeth Jackson, Paula Kimberley-Long, Karen Panlener, Sarah Lundy, Morgan Walsh with nuns China Cassie O'Kelly and Barbara Mealy

Once a Catholic
Produced by An Claidheamh Soluis; Celtic Arts Center, 5661 Hollywood Blvd., Hollywood; (213) 462-6844. Opened July 17; plays Fri.-Sat., 8: Su., 7; runs indefinitely.

Playwright: Mary O'Malley; Director: Joe Praml

   Sin is adorable. Virtue reaps punishment. A hard put nun teaches anatomy of the sex organs at work and in repose. A priest has access to all questions and answers. Post-Gregorian liturgical music starts with a hardy dah-de-dah chorale: "When Jesus Was Four Years Old."

All this and much, much more, lovingly points its sword of light and sets Once a Catholic apart from the average neighbor-hood hate-mongering protest theatre. Mary O'Malley's comedy dances lightly over the stepping stones and stumbling blocks of Catholic schoolgirl life in an Irish section of 1957's London. It's a long leap from then and there to here and now. O'Malley makes no preachments, but her writing encourages a sense of audience identification with her characters' trials, tribulations and triumphs.

Director Joe Praml has paced the piece to a consistent upbeat tempo that finds time for an extra beat of silence in which to savor a comedic point. With no loss of individuality, his cast performs harmoniously as an ensemble company. Praml's discipline may well be the most accountable source of his actors' engaging spontaneity, especially the younger players.

Among the schoolgirls--all named Mary--Morgan Walsh as Mary Mooney makes adorable every sin she commits. Always she's vulnerable, always in the wrong. The only thing about her that's in the right place is her heart. And she's foursquare sure she knows what sin is: murder and eating meat on Friday. (Remember, this is 1957).

China Cassie O'Kelly explodes in the ravishing role of formidable Mother Basil. She's the school's resident sex expert, a righteous keeper of the faith. Even a television evangelist could learn from her, and Satan himself would flee her kindly violence. Barbara Mealy deserves nothing but praise for portraying steadfast Mother Peter, while petite Jacintha Friel's Mother Thomas Acquinas is true to her sharp thinking namesake.

David Farjeon's song and two scenes distinguish the role of old semi-retired music teacher Mr. Emanuelli. Thin as a late afternoon shadow, Farjeon becomes the very image of an authoritativen artist valiantly preparing a girls' school production of The Mikado. Good luck, Mr. Emanuelli!

All the adolescent schoolgirl Marys are special, venturing into their roles with natural charm. There are no stick figures in Once a Catholic. Played by Elizabeth Jackson, Kerrie Kilpatrick, Sarah Lundy, Paula Kimberley Long and Karen Panlener, they're people. Bob Foster shows a flair for providing romance, pleasure and problems.

Adel Mazel designed the flexible school setting. Apt lighting and sound were designed by J. Kent Inasy and Peter Strauss, respectively.