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The Screwtape Letters: A review.
On Saturday May, 16th, we turned down the very short road of 77th St just
off of Division for a play that Ellen was acting in. The "playhouse" was
obviously a converted church now called the Master Arts Theatre. My excitement and
optimism was quickly diminished by the outside appearance of the building. And as I walked
into the theater, both waned even more as i saw simply two rows of seats on one side and
three rows on the other. The stage lay in the middle about 15' x 40' in total area. The
set was average if not a little plain. I settled in my chair simply ready to support my
friend.
Friends, no matter how many times i learn this lesson i seem to have to
learn it again and again: NEVER JUDGE A BOOK BY ITS COVER.
Simply put, within minutes my skepticism was replaced by utter
involvement. Involvement is the right word because when you sit literally feet away from
the actors and the action, you are involved. you see the sweat, feel the spit, sense the
tension, and experience the drama in a way you simply can't from a distance.
But even that would not have been so effective if it wasn't for the
players themselves.
But let's begin with the play itself. The Screwtape Letters is
surely a fictional story by C.S. Lewis about a school for demons being educated in the
ways of tempting humans. Though as accurately as Lewis nails the human condition it makes
one wonder if the story really is fictional.
The story centers around Screwtape, a teacher at the Tempters College and
Wormwood, the star pupil who just lost one of his "patients" to the Enemy (God).
What ensues are their attempts to cause the patient to stumble, be tempted, become
ineffective or as least as uninterested in Christianity as possible.
What the building lacked in charm and appeal was made up in spades by the
absolutely outstanding acting by everyone involved. And this is where the smallness of the
theater really pays off and it will be hard to ever watch the dramatic arts in any other
forum.
Screwtape was phenomonal. Played by an extremely talented woman who quotes
so many lines that one could forgive the occasional slip either in line or in character.
But there is nothing to forgive here. The performance is perfect and nearly flawless. The
emotion shown is raw and real. I have been in plays. I know what it takes to get into
character and try to make lines that you have studied for months look like its the first
time your saying them and with the proper emotion. Screwtape not only nails the lines but
does so without any seeming effort and with a viciousness that the character requires.
Make no mistake, all the characters in this play are good and well-casted,
but Screwtape is the star.
Wormwood is the star pupil. Eager to please, ready to lie, cheat and steal
his way to the top and yet doubtful that humans can be so stupid to believe their lies.
The actor playing Wormwood had a natually oily quality to him and carried off the role
easily.
All the actors did very well and I love when I am caught totally off-guard
by something. I have a completely new respect for small theater and if I am honest, there
was more talent in this small once-church than nearly all of Hollywood.
The play adds quite a bit more than CS Lewis's small tome but everything
in it i felt necessary to the proper telling of the story. It is set in the history of
World War II, which is the perfect setting for all the fears we face today in the
psychology of the human condition. It tells how devils will do anything to distract, cause
doubt, make ineffective, make us see ourselves as righteous, and use others to keep us
from their Enemy. Materialism, self-righteousness, legalism, complacency, romantic
interest, fear, doubt and even death. All things we struggle with without any help from
those graduating from the Tempters College.
It amazed me how often I found the particular themes resonating within my
soul. Much to my shame.
The show ends in hair-raising fashion. I was wide-eyed and nearly
breathless as climax and conclusion escalated the performances to the best of the night.
Truly thrilling, especially being so close. There is a twist at the end (which i did not
see coming and i absolutely love to be surprised at the end) and there is only one
question left unanswered. What happens to Wormwood?
I would not only recommend this play to anyone but the next time it comes
to town I would take the youth group, my kids, ask if i could video tape it and post it on
youtube! I will now read the book that inspired it.
Thank you, Master Arts Theatre. Thank you for living up to your name and
thank you for "involving" us in your play. Well done. Well done.
On a personal note: Ellen was awesome. Only a few lines but played with
gusto and precision. And next time she says something to you, ask her to repeat it in her
Scottish accent! |
