The Last Days Of Judas Iscariot Literature Reviews Examples

Written by Stephen Adly Guirgis, The last days of Judas Iscariot is a play about the trial of Judas Iscariot betrayal to Jesus Christ. The play starts with Henrietta Iscariot (the mother of Judas) who says, “The world tells me that God is in heaven, and my son is in hell. If my son is in hell then, there is no heaven. ” With the statement, Henrietta was defending Judas by insinuating that if Jesus died for human sin then her son might as well as be forgiven. The scene then changes to the courtroom where Judas is motionlessly sitting in a courtroom surrounded by judges, the jury, and attorneys. The trial is between the Kingdom of Heaven, God, and the Earth versus Judas the Iscariot. The judge arrogantly throws the case out repeatedly because he does not feel that Judas requires a defense and that he (Judas) had not signed the summons. Casting of the play is done superbly with a high consideration of an individual’s character. St Monica enters the courtroom and finds Judas still motionless. With her hip-hop language and street character, she brings humor to the whole play.
The director introduces Mother Theresa (Gloria) who is a member of the jury who acquired her wings recently and is frequently on earth to visit her family. A clear indication that there are angels amongst humans and that they watch over people. She later introduces butch and Sister Glenna (Loretta) who uses a life support machine on earth, but does not use it in Hope. The scene director uses that statement from Mother Theresa that life on heaven, hope and hell is different from that on earth. All three are members of the jury In the Iscariot case.
Defended by Fabiana Aziza Cunningham and prosecuted by Yusuf Al-Fayoumy, the case begins with different witnesses being called to the stand. Henrietta is the first to the stand, and as she testifies, it turns out that Judas was caught shoplifting while he was young. With that, the director shows that the character of Judas was questionable ever since he was young. However, a meeting between Judas and Matthias that ends with Judas giving the spinning top to Matthias leaves the judge and jury aware that there is another side of Judas that is good. Finally, Al-Fayoumy shows his prowess at research by telling the court that Judas was charged for stealing a blind man’s staff to buy candy and another spinning top. Al-Fayoumy does a splendid job as a prosecutor.
Mother Theresa is summoned to the stand, however; the court takes a five-minute adjournment because Al-Fayoumy could not stop flirting with her. The play introduces Saint Peter and Saint Matthew, who discuss how they came to follow the Messiah. The director used them to show that the messiah mingled with sinners whom He came to save. Back at the court, Al-Fayoumy shines praise on Mother Theresa, but Cunningham turns the table. Simon, the zealot, brings in the disappointment of the work of Jesus, which Cunningham uses to her advantage. She states that Jesus allowed Judas to betray him. Satan then testifies and denies that he played any role in Judas’ betrayal of Jesus. The director uses this to show in reality the cunning nature of the devil. The role that Mary Magdalene plays shows that God had known what would happen before it happened. Sigmund Freud, Caiaphas the elder, Pilate all come, and they play a part in defending Judas. Using them, the director brings about the religious questioning to light. Jesus walks in, and he says that he came for everyone. Butch comes in with the ruling, and he states that the jury finds Judas guilty. However, he shares his story with the court, and the director brings us to a landing by showing as there is no greater sinner and that we are all guilty of something.