The second of Guirgis' Signature season plays

The second play of Stephen Adly Guirgis' to feature part of the Signature 2017/18 season, this charming yet biting comedy drama once again examines the dark side of belief and religion. First premiering in 2003 at Labyrinth Theater Company, this darkly funny play follows a group of former students, as they arrive in Harlem to mourn the death of Sister Rose, a strict but hard-drinking nun who died of alcoholism. However, they can't hold a funeral without the guest of honor as the motley crew find out to their chagrin, when the body goes missing!

No funeral without a body

With no body to mourn, or to bury, the sister's wake is postponed for the time being, until she can be recovered. Meanwhile, the mourners who have already gathered to say their goodbyes are forced to confront some harsh truths from each other, as old wounds are reopened from childhood, and recriminations fly around like sparks from a candle.

It seems that everybody gathered there at her wake has their own demon to face, which becomes apparently clear when only half of the body is recovered! What are they hiding? Why are they all showing such irrational distress at the death of this hard-bitten old nun?