Much of the play’s humor is generated when the Catholic nuns are teamed with a Jewish actor who was acting in a ship-board production of “Fiddler on the Roof.”

First, an explanation. “Meshuggah” is a Yiddish word meaning “crazy.”

It is in the title of the summer musical at the Coaster Theatre Playhouse, opening Friday and running through Sept. 1.

“Meshuggah-Nuns!” is the fourth in the series of musicals that follow “Nunsense,” all dreamed up by its creator, Dan Goggin. The Coaster’s run begins with weekend performances, then shifts to a Wednesday, Thursday and Saturday schedule for seven weeks.

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“Nunsense” began as a greeting card concept and then a cabaret show before it became a long-running New York play with sequels that have had plotlines showcasing country music, Christmas “Nutcracker” and Las Vegas musical styles. At the core of the fun are the Little Sisters of Hoboken, first introduced to audiences in 1985.

The Coaster staged a production of the original script in 2019 and its executive director, Patrick Lathrop, said it was so well received, the sequel was selected.

“’Nunsense’ had been so popular that we thought it would be good to give this one a try,” said Lathrop, who is directing his 20th show at the Coaster. “It is a fairly small cast, and that’s good because it is a pretty long commitment.”

The production features Katherine Lacaze as the mother superior with Rhonda Warnack, Cathey Ryan and Rachel Stahly as the nuns.

Stahly, the youngest cast member, whose character manipulates a puppet called Sister Mary-Annette, is enjoying the experience. “I spend so much time just laughing at what we are saying in rehearsals,” she said. “You just want to laugh at everything we are doing.”

“Meshuggah-Nuns!” sees the sisters on an expenses-paid “Faiths of All Nations” cruise. After a week at sea, their ship runs into a storm. Many passengers become sick, including most of the cast of the onboard production of “Fiddler on the Roof.” In its place, the nuns present a musical revue with the actor who was portraying Tevye, played by Coaster stalwart David Sweeney. “It’s good, goofy fun,” he said.

‘Silly’

During the action, the characters embrace similarities between Jews and Catholics, as familiar songs from “Fiddler” take on different lyrics. “Tradition” becomes “Contrition” and there is even a song, “If I Were A Catholic … ” styled on Tevye’s “If I Were A Rich Man.”

“The whole thing has a feel of vaudeville or burlesque,” said Lathrop, who hopes audiences will enjoy popular culture references that pay homage to Mae West, Sophie Tucker and the Village People.

The actors wear their nuns’ habits throughout, so wigs, hats and other costume pieces go over them. “That’s been a bit of a challenge with the costumes,” the director said.

Lathrop said he has been having a blast — his only worry is having volunteered to understudy one of the nun roles for two midsummer performances because of an actor’s scheduling conflict.

He hopes audiences will be entertained, acknowledging that the lighter fare is perfect to distract from world woes.

“It is not deep. It is family-friendly,” he said. “I hope people come and just laugh and recognize how silly it is — and laughter is healthy!”

‘Meshuggah-Nuns!’

‘Meshuggah-Nuns!’

A musical by Dan Goggin, directed by Patrick Lathrop

Coaster Theatre Playhouse, 108 Hemlock St., Cannon Beach

7:30 p.m. Fridays and Saturdays through July 5, then Wednesdays, Thursdays and Saturday evenings through Aug. 31 with a closing show at 7:30 p.m. Sept. 1

Tickets are $30 to 35, in person at the theater box office

www.coastertheatre.com