USM Theatre Brings Christopher Durang's 'SOUTHERN BELLE' and 'SISTER MARY IGNATIUS' to Portland Stage Tonight

Nothing beats the winter blues like satire, swizzle sticks, and a pistol-packing nun! The University of Southern Maine (USM) Department of Theatre will present An Evening with Christopher Durang: "For Whom the Southern Belle Tolls" and "Sister Mary Ignatius Explains It All For You," directed by William Steele, USM professor of theatre, tonight, Feb. 6, through Feb. 14, at the Portland Stage Studio Theater.

The USM Department of Theatre has a longstanding tradition of presenting one production each season in Portland, and this will be the fourth season performing at the Portland Stage Studio Theater.

"Christopher Durang writes stingingly funny plays that often parody or satirize American artistic, cultural, and religious icons," said Steele.

"For Whom the Southern Belle Tolls" is a parody of Tennessee Williams' 1944 play, "The Glass Menagerie." Durang replaces Williams' well-known dysfunctional family of aging mother Amanda, isolated Laura, burdened Tom, and gentleman caller Jim, with an equally defective clan who also struggle to connect with, succeed in, or at least survive, the outside world.

In Durang's light-hearted one-act, Laura and her glass animal farm are swapped out for the hypochondriac Lawrence and his treasured collection of glass cocktail stirrers. Fading southern belle Amanda readies her feeble son for "feminine caller," Ginny, while her son, Tom, takes in desolate sailors who "need a place to sleep for the night."

Durang attended Catholic schools while growing up and is known for using satire to critique the religion's dogma and culture. In "Sister Mary Ignatius Explains It All For You," an uncompromising nun addresses the audience to indoctrinate them on the dangers of sin.

"Durang takes on Catholic teachings as doled out to students by a fanatical nun," said Steele. "The show offers today's audiences plenty of laughter, along with food for thought, at a time when cultures far and wide are suffering from religious extremism."

In the show, Sister Mary's prized pupil, Thomas, chimes in periodically to recite the Ten Commandments in exchange for cookies. Halfway through the nun's discourse, some of her former students arrive to weigh in with their own opinions about their religious upbringing and its inherent psychological trauma. One woman in particular harbors simmering anger for her former teacher. The situation escalates, firearms come into play, and Sister Mary proves that, in addition to cookies, she has a few tricks up her sleeve.

The evening also will include an introductory speech by one of Durang's characters, Mrs. Sorken, who will present her views about theater and what is in store for the audience.

Durang won a 2013 Tony Award for Best Play for "Vanya and Sonia and Masha and Spike." He is co-director of the Lila Acheson Wallace American Playwrights Program at The Juilliard School.

Tickets: $15, general public; $11, seniors, USM employees and alumni; $8 students. A season Flex Pass is $45 for six tickets. Call the USM Theatre Box Office at (207) 780-5151 or go to http://www.usm.maine.edu/theatre. The Portland Stage Studio Theater is located at 21A Forest Ave., Portland.

Show Times:
Feb. 6-14, 2015; all performances are at 7:30 p.m.
Friday, Feb. 6
Saturday, Feb. 7
Sunday, Feb. 8
Tuesday, Feb. 10
Wednesday, Feb. 11
Thursday, Feb. 12
Friday, Feb. 13
Saturday, Feb. 14

Cast List:

Elinor Strandskov (Mrs. Sorken)

"For Whom the Southern Belle Tolls":

Mary Kate Ganza (Amanda Wingvalley)

Josh Cohen (Tom Wingvalley)

David Bliss (Lawrence Wingvalley)

Marisa Bickford (Ginny Bennett)

"Sister Mary Ignatius Explains It All For You":

Courtney Pomerleau (Sister Mary)

John Rocker (Thomas)

Josh Cohen (Gary Sullivan)

Caroline O'Connor (Diane Symmons)

Caroline Smart (Philomena Rostovich)

Jake Hammond (Aloysius Benheim)