"Set in a strikingly eerie, elegant and austere office in Hell, the play follows an urbane senior devil, Screwtape, who confidently dictates crackling good prose to his secretary, Toadpipe. The mission: To instruct a novice demon, Wormwood, on the fine art of tempting a young Christian away from “the Enemy” (Screwtape’s name for God) and safely down to the ravenous “our father below.” - Shakespeare Theater website description.While this was less like a theatrical play and more like a dramatic reading, Lewis' words and wonderful insights still shine through. Oddly "Screwtape Proposes a Toast", which is usually put at the end of the book, is at the beginning of this play. The entire play consists of Screwtape reciting his letters to Wormwood while Toadpipe records everything. Toadpipe is incredibly odd looking (as you can see by the picture I've included) and she doesn't utter a coherent word throughout the production. However, the creature does add some comedic relief to a relatively serious story.
The most important thing about this play is that the spirit of Lewis' original work and many of his exact words appear to be well preserved. The playwrights (one of which plays Screwtape himself) seem to have pulled the best out of the letters and recited them word for word.
Again, this is not really a theatrical play but it is well worth the watching! It definitely reminded this reviewer of the power of Lewis' great words from the book.
This production is currently playing at the Harman Center for the Arts, Lansburgh Theater.
4/17/2008 - 5/18/2008 Washington D.C.
1 comment:
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