Sister Mary Ignatius Explains It All For You ; And, The Actor's Nightmare
by Christopher Durang

Name: Sister Mary Ignatius Explains It All For You ; And, The Actor's Nightmare
Brand: Christopher Durang
SKU: 9780822210351
Rating: 3.98 (2723 reviews)

Off-Broadway

Sister Mary Ignatius Explains It All For You ; And, The Actor's Nightmare Cover

Sister Mary Ignatius Explains It All For You ; And, The Actor's Nightmare Book Cover — Sister Mary Ignatius Explains It All For You ; And, The Actor's Nightmare Cover

Highlights

Small Cast

Female

Male

One Act 75 mins 1980s Features Children Bare Stage/Simple Set Contemporary Costumes/Street Clothes American Comedy

What readers are saying

Readers appreciate the dark humor and sharp satire in both plays, particularly enjoying the character of Sister Mary Ignatius. Many find the commentary on Catholicism thought-provoking and relatable, while the absurdity of The Actor's Nightmare resonates well with audiences. Overall, the performances are described as both hilarious and unsettling, capturing the complexities of belief and identity.

Dark humor and sharp satire Intriguing character of Sister Mary Thought-provoking commentary on Catholicism Sister's lecture can be tedious

Synopsis

This biting, irreverent and uproariously funny satire aims its barbs at organized religion and strikes home with hilarious results.

In it, Sister Mary’s long lecture on Roman Catholicism starts conventionally but grows in morbidity and even horror as it proceeds.

Sister Mary Ignatius, a teaching nun who is much concerned with sin in all of its various forms, delivers a cautionary lecture to her charges.

The lecture is interrupted by four of her ex-students, who present a religious pageant, then reveal how far they have strayed from her teaching.

Their stories are disturbing, but also very funny – and it is quickly apparent that one thing they all have in common is their loathing for Sister Mary and the unyielding dogma which she forced on them in their formative years.

In the end there is mayhem and bloodshed – but with this, the unsettling feeling that, amid the laughter, some devastating truths have been told.

Press Reviews

"As a man possessed with a lethal and barbed imagination, [Durang’s] comic nightmares leave audiences laughing before they’re surprised by a gut-punch of emotion."
— Backstage

"A rich cornucopia of dreamlike associations."
— Breaking the Fourth Wall

"It’s a potent piece in that it taps into the universal nightmare that in life we all find ourselves in inexplicable situations where everyone but us knows the lines."
— The Guardian

Characters

Character	Gender	Age	Description
SISTER MARY	female	—	—
IGNATIUS A strict Catholic nun. Anywhere from 45 to a vigorous 65.	—	—	A strict Catholic nun. Anywhere from 45 to a vigorous 65.
THOMAS A young student in Sister Mary’s class.	female	—	A young student in Sister Mary’s class.
GARY SULLAVAN A former student who reveals himself to be gay.	—	—	A former student who reveals himself to be gay.
DIANE SYMONDS A former student who has had two abortions.	—	—	A former student who has had two abortions.
PHILOMENA ROSTOVICH A former student who is an unwed mother.	female	—	A former student who is an unwed mother.
ALOYSIUS BUSICCIO A former student who has become an alcoholic and is considering suicide.	—	—	A former student who has become an alcoholic and is considering suicide.

Videos

The Actor’s Nightmare Trailer – Park Theatre

Publication

Publisher Dramatists Play Service

Year 2026

Binding Paperback

Pages 74

Place New York

Language English

ISBN-13 9780822210351

ISBN-10 0822210355

LCCN 96208095

LCC PS3554.U666 S5 1995

DCC 812/.54

Sister Mary Ignatius Explains It All For You ; And, The Actor's Nightmare is a American comedy play written by Christopher Durang and published by Dramatists Play Service in New York (2026).