Presented by Beating Heart Theatre Company
Reviewed 21 February 2014
Is the Devil actually the root of all evil, or is he just a scapegoat for the terrible things people do? Directed by Simon Lancione and written by Clive Barker, The History of the Devil delves into the mind of this most infamous character.
The Devil (Mark Drury), returns to Earth requesting re-ascension into Heaven, but must first prove his innocence in front of the court (Glen Johns as Judge, Tom Fizsimons as court reporter, and Melissa Martins and Bess Simper-Brown as the prosecution). The Devil hires Sam Kyle (Julian Jaensch) as his advocate to convince prosecutors that it is actually he, the Prince of Lies, who has been wronged.
The History of the Devil is not a swipe at religious institutions, but an argument for integrity. If letting The Devil, a character widely regarded as the ultimate wrongdoer, go free turns out to be the ethical thing to do, should you do it? This play is full of interesting twists and turns that provoke some pretty deep thought.
There is a lot of dark comedy in The History of the Devil, as you would probably expect. The total role reversals of some of the characters, most importantly Jesus and Lucifer, are hilarious, teetering on that fine line between tasteful and offensive.
The use of space, costuming and lighting are very effective, managing to turn the intimate theatre space into various places around the world, as well as taking the audience back in time. The minimalism of the set allows the imagination to soar, making the vivid depictions of horror and death all the more shocking!
Can there be such a thing as ‘sympathy for The Devil?’ The History of the Devil definitely puts forth an interesting and entertaining, argument.
Reviewed by James Rudd
Venue: Directors Hotel, 247 Gouger Street, Adelaide
Season: 21 February – 3 March
Duration: 100 mins
Tickets: $13.00-$18.00
Bookings: Book through FringeTix online or phone 1300 621 255
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