REVIEW: Stray Dog Theatre Presents Hilarious Production of SISTER MARY IGNATIUS EXPLAINS IT ALL FOR YOU

If you're looking for an alternative to the usual holiday fare, there are several productions opening up this week that may intrigue you. For instance, you might consider Stray Dog Theatre's production of Sister Mary Ignatius Explains It All for You as an interesting and entertaining option. Christopher Durang's dark and wildly funny play certainly fills the bill, offering a warped and unique perspective on Catholicism.

The play focuses on Sister Mary Ignatius as she attempts to explain her personal views on the basic tenets of Catholicism to the audience. Sister Mary is unwavering in her faith, and her strict adherence to the letter of biblical law is carried to ridiculous extremes that may cause you to question her sanity. The sudden appearance on stage of four disgruntled students from her past, who present a rather bizarre and twisted Christmas pageant, takes the action down a dark and treacherous path with unexpected results.

Margeau Baue Steinau fully inhabits the role of Sister Mary Ignatius, giving an intense performance that fully captures your attention. Steinau mines the role for its maximum comic and dramatic potential, and whether you agree with her opinions or not, she's always compelling and engaging. Her young son, Adam Steinau, takes on the role of her prized student, and does fine work spewing out the answers to Sister Mary's catechism queries.

Jenn Bock makes a vivid impression as a former charge from her class of 1959 named Diane Symonds. Diane has had a hard life, losing her mother to cancer, and dealing with two abortions, and she blames Sister for the unrealistic expectations she's gleaned from her teachings. She brings along three disgruntled fellow students in an attempt to embarrass Sister Mary, but ends up getting far more than she bargained for in the end.

Stephen Peirick does a good job as Gary, a gay former student, who was frightened and intimidated by Sister Mary when he attended her classes as a youth. Colleen Backer is also sharp as an unwed mother named Philomena. She appears as the front half of a camel in the peculiar nativity play they present. The rear half is portrayed by B. Weller as Alyosius, a man with a weak bladder who bears his own scars from his time under Sister's tutelage.

Gary Bell handles the directorial chores with aplomb, and he's also responsible for the period costumes (the play is set in the 1970's) and set design. Bell's stellar work keeps the action flowing at a crisp pace. He's aided by Tyler Duenow's lighting and Justin Been's sound design.

Durang's work is hilarious and tragic in equal measure, and this talented ensemble does a good job bringing these eccentric characters to life.

Stray Dog Theatre's production of Sister Mary Ignatius Explains It All for You continues through December 19, 2009 at the Tower Grove Abbey, which is the perfect venue for this controversial piece.

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