The Last Days of Judas Iscariot is a play written by Stephen Adly Guirgis in 2005. It tells the story of a hearing in Purgatory, with the purpose of determining whether or not Judas Iscariot ought to be released from Hell. Judas' motives for his treachery are examined as everyone from Judas' own mother to the Devil himself is called to testify before the court.
Various performances of the play can be found on YouTube, although the script cannot be read online in its entirety.
This play provides examples of:
- Alternate Character Interpretation: In universe, not only of Judas but of practically every other mythological and/or historical figure mentioned in the play, from God and Satan to Mother Teresa.
- Bigger Is Better in Bed: Satan implies this about himself and his considerable "presence."
- Celestial Bureaucracy: There are courts in Purgatory and writs signed by God.
- Cluster F-Bomb: Saint Monica. 'Das right, saint.
- Courtroom Drama
- Did You Just Flip Off Cthulhu?: Satan calls Fabiana on this one, rather dramatically.
- Driven to Suicide: Judas, of course, and also the judge after his side lost the war.
- Drowning My Sorrows: Judas the night after Jesus's arrest.
- Faux Affably Evil: Satan. You might think he's Affably Evil, until he drops his affable mask in the second act.
- Good Ol' Boy: The judge, who fought in the Civil War on the Confederate side.
- Hannibal Lecture: Delivered by Satan to Fabiana and El-Fayoumy.
- Jive Turkey: St. Monica.
- Large Ham: El-Fayoumy.
- Pet the Dog: Even slimy El-Fayoumy is bothered by Satan's treatment of Cunningham. It's even implied that he skips his chance to question Satan because of the effect Satan is having on Cunningham.
- Please Spare Him, My Liege!: Judas to Pilate after Jesus's arrest.
- Public Domain Character: All the witnesses, Judas, Jesus, and St. Monica.
- Rape as Backstory: Fabaiana. It's brought up as a reason why she's broken, but only in passing.
- "The Reason You Suck" Speech: Fabiana delivers these to several witnesses.
- Satan: He is called as a witness twice.
- Screw the Rules, I Have Connections!: St. Monica has "mad saintly conecs", which she uses to get God to sign the writ to authorize the case, among other things.
- Self-Inflicted Hell: Strongly implied for Judas.
- Spiteful Spit: Judas to Jesus during their final argument.
- Teeny Weenie: Satan tells El-Fayoumy that "on a good day, your cock measures three-and-a-half inches erect" and he definitely means it as an insult.
- Unreliable Narrator: Tons. Everyone has their own idea of who Judas Iscariot really was. Misguided, mentally ill, evil, betrayed, betrayer, necessary, collateral damage, scapegoat . . .
- Used to Be a Sweet Kid: Judas, in his mother's totally biased opinion.
- Well-Intentioned Extremist: Judas, according to Simon.
