Bad Habits Reviews
Broadway World- Recommended
"...German-born Sister Helga (Mouchette van Helsdingen) could scare any students into behaving, but is really a softy at heart who has seen it all and chosen to not bear it in silence. Her pointed observations are spot on, and hysterically funny coming from the mouth of such a dedicated nun who seems to thrive with a lit cigarette in her hand at every chance she gets."
LA Splash- Recommended
"...BAD HABITS sparkles with fun as these oh-so-human women of God decide to fight City Hall with a vengeance. The very funny Orson Bean leads the way as a comic who keeps the audience laughing at his good-natured jibes at the religious life - and the small sins that all of us commit with impunity. The Sisters keep up with him with a chuckle - sometimes even involving the audience in their shenanigans. Some of the convent inhabitants have powerful and also very sweet voices as they sing their way through a bunch of Christmas favorites. All in all, BAD HABITS is a charming introduction to the holiday season - clever, cute, and harmless fun with an endearing cast. Only Scrooge will be able to keep a smile from his face."
Stage Scene LA- Highly Recommended
"...A nonagenarian TV legend spars with a quintet of salty-tongued singing nuns in Steve Mazur's comedic crowd-pleaser Bad Habits, a holiday hit for Santa Monica's Ruskin Group Theatre held over to start 2020 with a bang."
On Stage Los Angeles- Recommended
"...With movie and television credits, Mazur's story is apt and fun with audience participation whether we want to or not, which may be a Catholic tradition. Every character has a personal story to tell and the result is a charming couple of hours with a Christmas surprise. Of course, heading out to the Santa Monica Airport is worth the journey that will send an audience into the night with a smile and a huge laugh as it all resolves, including the curtain call."
Showmag- Recommended
"...With a simple sitcom storyline, Bad Habits is elevated to theatrical artistry by its formidable cast. In addition to the comedic abilities of Mr. Bean (who's given the stage to deliver what amounts to a stand-up act) and Ms. Mills's convincing dedication to her character's reliogious vocation, there is Lee Garlington as the dry-witted and cynical Sister Maggie; Mouchette van Helsdingen as the richly accented Sister Helga; Jacquelin Lorraine Schofield playing songbird Sister Anthea; Jacquelynne Fontaine as the whiskey-swilling, cigarette smoking Sister Claire; and Kelsey Griswold as the cryptic former student who appears at times to be possessed by an otherworldly spirit and who displays a lovely singing voice. Also, there's Jennifer Sagiao who acts as the diocese secretary. Kudos to each cast member, who sing, dance and bring us to high hilarity as we watch and enjoy this two-hour spiritual comedy."
Stage Raw- Somewhat Recommended
"...While Mazur's script has moments of clever dialogue, almost all the scenes are purely expository. Any dramatic tension within the plot and among the characters is never fully fleshed out, so the stakes seem low. Several segments involve audience participation, but these feel unearned without a strong plot to support them. And while there are a couple of uniquely funny jokes, the long sequences of nun puns and non-sequiturs are never quite as funny as the script thinks they are. Comedy is at its best when characters are fighting tooth and nail for what they want and bumping into ridiculous obstacles along the way, but Bad Habits lacks the essential drive that makes comedy sing."