Difference between revisions of "Sister Mary Ignatius Explains It All For You"
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| − | ''Sister Mary Ignatius Explains It All For You'', by American playwright Christopher Durang | + | ''Sister Mary Ignatius Explains It All For You'', by American playwright Christopher Durang was first performed on December 14, 1979, at the Ensemble Studio Theatre in New York City, |
==Original text== | ==Original text== | ||
| − | The play | + | The play revolves around a nun, Sister Mary Ignatius, explaining to the audience the basic tenets of Catholicism. She is assisted by her favorite student, seven-year-old Thomas. From time to time, she asks him catechism questions and gives him a cookie for every right answer. Half-way into her speech, some of her former students, now grown up, enter to perform a mock Christmas pageant from their childhood days and reveal to Sister Mary the deep psychological trauma her teachings left on them. Sister Mary's unwavering dogma combined with the absurdist nature of the play add elements of biting comedy. (Source: Wikipedia). |
==Performance history in South Africa== | ==Performance history in South Africa== | ||
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1983: In South Africa, a [[Baxter Theatre]] Production was directed by [[John Slemon]] in 1983. The cast included [[Paddy Canavan]],[[Sean Sanders]], [[Mark Wilson]], [[Maralin Vanrenen]], [[Nigel Sweet]], [[Pippa Dyer|Philippa Dyer]], [[Stephen Gurney]]. | 1983: In South Africa, a [[Baxter Theatre]] Production was directed by [[John Slemon]] in 1983. The cast included [[Paddy Canavan]],[[Sean Sanders]], [[Mark Wilson]], [[Maralin Vanrenen]], [[Nigel Sweet]], [[Pippa Dyer|Philippa Dyer]], [[Stephen Gurney]]. | ||
| − | 2012: Staged at the [[Woordfees|US Woordfees]], Stellenbosch, presented by [[Polony]] and directed by [[Christiaan Olwagen]], in the [[PJ Olivier Kunssentrum]], on 8 and 9 March, on the Sanlam Dramafees programme. The cast was [[Martelize Kolver]], [[De Klerk Oelofse]], [[Roeline Daneel]], [[Wessel Pretorius]], [[Cintaine Schutte]] and [[Naudé van der Merwe]]. Age restriction: no under-18s. | + | 2012: Staged at the [[Woordfees|US Woordfees]], Stellenbosch, presented by [[Polony]] and directed by [[Christiaan Olwagen]], in the [[PJ Olivier Kunssentrum]], on 8 and 9 March, on the [[Sanlam Dramafees programme]]. The cast was [[Martelize Kolver]], [[De Klerk Oelofse]], [[Roeline Daneel]], [[Wessel Pretorius]], [[Cintaine Schutte]] and [[Naudé van der Merwe]]. Age restriction: no under-18s. |
==Sources== | ==Sources== | ||
Revision as of 18:14, 1 July 2026
Sister Mary Ignatius Explains It All For You, by American playwright Christopher Durang was first performed on December 14, 1979, at the Ensemble Studio Theatre in New York City,
Original text
The play revolves around a nun, Sister Mary Ignatius, explaining to the audience the basic tenets of Catholicism. She is assisted by her favorite student, seven-year-old Thomas. From time to time, she asks him catechism questions and gives him a cookie for every right answer. Half-way into her speech, some of her former students, now grown up, enter to perform a mock Christmas pageant from their childhood days and reveal to Sister Mary the deep psychological trauma her teachings left on them. Sister Mary's unwavering dogma combined with the absurdist nature of the play add elements of biting comedy. (Source: Wikipedia).
Performance history in South Africa
1983: In South Africa, a Baxter Theatre Production was directed by John Slemon in 1983. The cast included Paddy Canavan,Sean Sanders, Mark Wilson, Maralin Vanrenen, Nigel Sweet, Philippa Dyer, Stephen Gurney.
2012: Staged at the US Woordfees, Stellenbosch, presented by Polony and directed by Christiaan Olwagen, in the PJ Olivier Kunssentrum, on 8 and 9 March, on the Sanlam Dramafees programme. The cast was Martelize Kolver, De Klerk Oelofse, Roeline Daneel, Wessel Pretorius, Cintaine Schutte and Naudé van der Merwe. Age restriction: no under-18s.
Sources
Barrow, Brian & Williams-Short, Yvonne (eds.). 1988. Theatre Alive! The Baxter Story 1977-1987
US Woordfees 2012 programme.
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