Overview
Synopsis
The Last Days of Judas Iscariot is a hilarious, poignant, thought-provoking work by Pulitzer-prize winning playwright Stephen Adly Guirgis. Boasting a large, zany cast of characters, the play asks one of the most plaguing questions in the Christian ideology: What happened to Judas Iscariot? The facts (we think!) we know are these: Judas was the disciple of Jesus who betrayed his friend and teacher to the authorities. He is seen as the man responsible for Jesus’s death; afterwards, Judas fell into despair and hung himself from an olive tree; since then, he has been suffering for his deeds deep in Hell, and will continue to do so for all eternity. Is that really fair? Was Judas the duplicitous master of his own fate, a much-suffering pawn used for Jesus’s ends, or just a man who made a mistake? Set in a courtroom in Purgatory, The Last Days puts Judas’ case to a hilarious, riotous, piercing trial, the results of which are sure to make the inhabitants of Heaven, Hell, and Purgatory — and the audience — reconsider what each thought they knew about forgiveness, faith, and the human inside one of the history’s most infamous figures.
Show Information
- Book
- Stephen Adly Guirgis
- Category
- Play
- Age Guidance
- Thirteen Plus (PG-13)
- Number of Acts
- 2
- First Produced
- 2005
- Genres
- Comedy, Dark Comedy
- Settings
- Contemporary, Unit/Single Set
- Time & Place
- a courtroom of hope located in downtown purgatory, unspecified present
- Cast Size
- large
- Orchestra Size
- None
- Licensor
- Dramatists Play Service
- Ideal For
- professional theatre, regional theatre, college / university theatre, ensemble cast, Diverse Cast, Mostly Male Cast, Includes Adult, Mature Adult, Elderly, Child, Early Teen Characters, Large Cast
Context
The Last Days of Judas Iscariot boasts twenty-three characters. It is a good script for either a large cast or medium-sized cast with actors doubling as multiple characters. The playwright does not specify a specific way in which the director must divide the parts. The original production assigned the roles as followed:
- Actor 1: Satan
- Actor 2: Gloria, Mother Theresa
- Actor 3: Judge Littlefield, Caiaphas the Elder, Saint Matthew
- Actor 4: Loretta, Mary Magdalene, Sister Glenna
to read the context for The Last Days of Judas Iscariot and to unlock other amazing theatre resources!Plot
Prologue
In darkness and rain, a woman emerges. Henrietta Iscariot, mother of Biblical betrayer Judas Iscariot, approaches the audience to tell her side of the famous story. She expresses the grief a parent feels in burying her own child. In her case, she had to bury her son alone: her husband was dead, and Judas’ sisters and friends refused to attend his funeral. She recalls the surge of joy and love that filled her body when she gave birth to her son. She rounds up her case with a
to read the plot for The Last Days of Judas Iscariot and to unlock other amazing theatre resources!Characters
| Name | Part Size | Gender | Vocal Part |
|---|---|---|---|
|
Lead |
Male |
Spoken |
|
|
Lead |
Male |
Spoken |
|
|
Lead |
Male |
Spoken |
|
|
Lead |
Male |
Spoken |
|
|
Lead |
Female |
Spoken |
|
|
Lead |
Male |
Spoken |
|
|
Lead |
Female |
Spoken |
|
|
Supporting |
Female |
Spoken |
|
|
Supporting |
Female |
Spoken |
|
|
Supporting |
Male |
Spoken |
|
|
Supporting |
Male |
Spoken |
|
|
Supporting |
Male |
Spoken |
|
|
Featured |
Male |
Spoken |
|
|
Featured |
Female |
Spoken |
|
|
Featured |
Male |
Spoken |
|
|
Featured |
Male |
Spoken |
|
|
Featured |
Male |
Spoken |
|
|
Featured |
Male |
Spoken |
|
|
Featured |
Male |
Spoken |
|
|
Featured |
Female |
Spoken |
|
|
Featured |
Male |
Spoken |
|
|
Featured |
Female |
Spoken |
|
|
Featured |
Female |
Spoken |
|
|
Featured |
Male |
Spoken |
|
|
Ensemble |
Either Gender |
Spoken |
Songs
A song with an asterisk (*) before the title indicates a dance number; a character listed in a song with an asterisk (*) by the character's name indicates that the character exclusively serves as a dancer in this song, which is sung by other characters.
Monologues
Scenes
Key Terms
Also called “black comedy,” takes a pessimistic view of the world.
Denoting or taking place in a New York City theatre that is smaller than those in the Broadway theatre district and typically stages less expensive/commercial productions.
An award for an achievement in American journalism, literature, or music
Videos
Quizzes
Themes, Symbols & Motifs
Sorry! We do not currently have learning modules for this guide.
Quote Analysis
Sorry! We do not currently have learning modules for this guide.
Guide Written By:
