Doctor Doctor

by Catherine Stewart

The corridors are rife with tumbling troupes of medical staff spouting knowledge, nuns on a mission from God, board members more concerned with snacks than salaries, and clowns trying to provide their best medicine. All the while patients are searching for a way to survive in a system that strips them of their humanity. Everyone is after a little bit of care, but who can they turn to if the hospital itself can’t...

The corridors are rife with tumbling troupes of medical staff spouting knowledge, nuns on a mission from God, board members more concerned with snacks than salaries, and clowns trying to provide their best medicine. All the while patients are searching for a way to survive in a system that strips them of their humanity. Everyone is after a little bit of care, but who can they turn to if the hospital itself can’t remain healthy?

Doctor Doctor is a five-act surrealist drama which draws on the traditions of farce and vaudeville to tell the story of seven characters trapped inside an American hospital.

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Doctor Doctor

Recommended by

  • Rachel Dindy: Doctor Doctor by Catherine Stewart
    “

    I admire this play so much and enjoyed every minute of the reading I heard. Catherine is very talented and in this play, she manages to weave in a lot of poignant commentary on healthcare while maintaining wit and good humor. It's obvious that a lot of love, emotion, and hard work went into creating this piece!

    I admire this play so much and enjoyed every minute of the reading I heard. Catherine is very talented and in this play, she manages to weave in a lot of poignant commentary on healthcare while maintaining wit and good humor. It's obvious that a lot of love, emotion, and hard work went into creating this piece!

    ”
  • Megan Tripaldi: Doctor Doctor by Catherine Stewart
    “

    This play is incredible. I got to see a reading of one of the scenes as part of Catherine's MFA graduation and, no hyperbole, she writes food into scenes in a way that I've never seen. I can't wait to see this fully produced.

    This play is incredible. I got to see a reading of one of the scenes as part of Catherine's MFA graduation and, no hyperbole, she writes food into scenes in a way that I've never seen. I can't wait to see this fully produced.

    ”

Character Information

A play for seven actors (6f, 1nb), with the addition of a five actor chorus (any gender).

CHORUS (suggested doubling)

[GALEN / AT TENDING / DAD / MR YELLOW / PROVIDER / SISTER MARY VICTORIA]

[AVICENNA / BLACK BILE / DOCTOR CLOWN FURTZ / DOCTOR / MR GREEN / SISTER MARY ANNE / NURSE CHO]

[ASCLEPIUS / DISCLAIMER / MOM / MR RED / MR. LYONS]

[PHLEGM / CLOWN DOCTOR GEEWHIZ / PATIENT / SIMON HOPKINS / MR BLACK]

[HIPPOCRATES / BLOOD / R.A.PEARSON / MR BLUE / SISTER MARY JOSEPHINE]

[MEDICAL STAFF, MAINTENANCE STAFF, ADMINISTRATION ST AFF & PATIENTS to
be played by the chorus when possible.]

YELLOW BILE - played by actor playing Jackie

CLARK STANLEY - played by actor playing Teresa
  • Sy Clements
    Teenager
    Non-binary
    Can be played by:
    • Actor Age
      Teens,
      20s
    • Actor Gender Identity
      Non-binary
  • Dr Ngozi
    Late 20s
    Can be played by:
    • Actor Age
      20s
    • Actor Race/Ethnic Identity
      Black, African, Caribbean, or African American
    • Actor Gender Identity
      Woman
  • Teresa Hopkins
    Late 50s
    Can be played by:
    • Actor Age
      50s,
      60s
    • Actor Gender Identity
      Woman
  • Vivian
    30s
    Can be played by:
    • Actor Age
      30s,
      40s
    • Actor Gender Identity
      Woman
  • Mary Wallace
    40s
    Can be played by:
    • Actor Age
      40s,
      50s
    • Actor Gender Identity
      Woman
  • Dr Susan Tate
    60s
    Can be played by:
    • Actor Age
      50s,
      60s
    • Actor Race/Ethnic Identity
      White
    • Actor Gender Identity
      Woman
  • Jackie
    20s
    Can be played by:
    • Actor Age
      20s
    • Actor Race/Ethnic Identity
      Asian, Pacific Islander, or Asian American,
      Black, African, Caribbean, or African American,
      Indigenous, First Nation, or Native American,
      Latinx/o/a or Hispanic,
      Middle Eastern, North African, or Arab American,
      Native Hawaiian and Other Pacific Islander,
      South Asian or South Asian American
    • Actor Gender Identity
      Woman

Development History

  • Reading, The Players' Ring / New Hampshire State Council on the Arts, 2023