Overview
Synopsis
George Spelvin doesn’t know who he is. He thought he was an accountant, but he somehow wound up on a stage taking over for an actor who can’t go on. The problem is he has no idea what play he’s doing. Christopher Durang’s metatheatrical one-act comedy twists and turns through Shakespeare, Beckett, and Noel Coward, arriving at an ending that blurs the line between reality and theatre. The Actor’s Nightmare is often paired with Sister Mary Ignatious Explains It All For You in performance, with an ensemble of five actors performing roles in both plays.
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Characters
Character Portrayals
See StageAgent members who have performed roles in The Actor's Nightmare.
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Monologues
Scenes
Key Terms
A performance technique where an actor speaks directly to the audience, breaking the fourth wall for dramatic or comedic effect.
A group of performers who function as a unit in a production rather than as individuals with leading roles.
A form of self-referential drama where the play draws attention to its own theatricality. This device challenges the audience’s suspension of disbelief and is used in Epic Theatre and postmodern works.
A speech delivered by a character alone on stage, revealing inner thoughts or emotions to the audience. Common in Shakespearean plays.
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Guide Written By:
Kevan Dunkelberg
Oklahoma-based drama teacher, actor and playwright