Description: Marcy Wuggelson is jinx, so when she decides to visit her favorite self-help author, Wanda Moore, in the hospital on Christmas Eve the scene is ripe for disaster; but with the help of Santa’s Reindeer, the Ghost of Christmas Future, a Nun, and phenomenologist Martin Heidegger, Marcy and Wanda may just discover the true meaning of Christmas… or at least what the German Lady is screaming about.

First Produced: 1995
Date Added: 10/9/2011
Content Advisory:
Keywords: Comedy  Nuns and priests  Religion and spirituality  Sickness and Mental Illness  Single Set  Mostly Female Characters 
1 Act, 100 Minutes
3 Females, 1 Male, 1 Gender Neutral

NOTE: Mercy Falls is fully protected by copyright law and is subject to royalty. All inquiries concerning production, publication, reprinting or use of this play in any form should be addressed to rights@jenimahoney.com.

Original Production Information

Mercy Falls was presented by Aegean Theater Company, at the 30th Street Theater in Manhattan, in December 1995 with the following cast and credits:

Marcy Wuggelson: Lisa Dove
Wanda Moore: Carol Giffen
Nurse One/ Nurse Two/ Voice of Melissa/ Dr. Smithwhistle: Janet Geist
Patient’s Advocate/ Dr.’s Assistant / Nun: Bryan E. Smith
The German Lady: Danette Baker

Director – James Abar
Stage Manager – John Warrick
Assistant Stage Manager – Neil Necastro
Sets – Greg Paul
Lights – Michael Lodovico 
Costumes – Deb Downing
Sound – Rob Volk

Sorry, no review is available for this show.

Excerpt from Mercy Falls

MARCY

I'm afraid I didn't bring a nighty...

NUN

Most of God's children bring their own nighties, but if you do not have a nighty the Church is prepared to provide one at absolutely no cost to us.

MARCY

Great...

GERMAN LADY

(Unseen:)

Mit der Reifevollendetsich die Frucht!

(The NUN laughs.)

WANDA

Do you speak German?

NUN

Fluently.

WANDA

Did you understand what she said just now?

NUN

Of course! "With ripeness the fruit falls" or something like that.

WANDA

Are you sure?

NUN

Well, it could also been, "With rice fallen the self is fruit".

WANDA

So you’re not completely sure?

NUN

Well, it’s one or the other.

MELISSA

(Off-stage:)

Sister, if I could just...

NUN

Don't provoke me, Melissa!

MELISSA

(Off-stage:)

But sister, I’m gonna pee-pee if I don’t - !

NUN

Just hold it, Melissa, Jesus would hold it!

MARCY

You can go. I'll just sit like this. I won't move, promise.

NUN

No, no it's good for her. As Jesus said, "Suffer the little children..." Now did you want a plain nighty or something with a little lace?

WANDA

I've never heard that line interpreted that way.

NUN

Obviously you did not attend a Catholic Institution.