Tower Players' performance sinister appeal to evil
Mark Hensch
Issue date: 2/12/09 Section: Arts
Demonic correspondence unfolds with the Tower Players' production of C.S. Lewis' "The Screwtape Letters." Over the course of its hour and 45 minutes, veteran demon Screwtape writes letters to his novice nephew Wormwood explaining life, death and temptation. While the show could have been dry theology, it emerges as a glance into evil from Hell itself.
Though the play is set in a realm of everlasting torment, it is pleasurable, not painful, for viewers. On paper, the play is a series of recitations from Screwtape's letters. In reality, the Tower Players cleverly employ five actors in delivering Screwtape's thoughts. When combined with the claustrophobic Quilhot Black Box Theatre, the end result feels like a direct appeal from evil to the audience.
The approach works wonders in bringing out the best in every performer. Each dresses in immaculate black formalwear, sleek and sinister. Senior Katelyn Rasmussen takes the outfit seriously, treating her soliloquy like a tense business meeting.
Freshman Rachel Kemp, meanwhile, uses her classy dress and stately demeanor to elicit fear. While stalking the stage, Kemp delivers her dialogue with icy haughtiness, her words chilling and arrogant.
Following Kemp is sophomore Daniel Racke, a towering monster whose booming voice will definitely gain attention.
Of particular note, however, are sophomore Kirsty Sadler and freshman Josh Dygert. From playful chatter to hyena cackling Sadler masters the use of her tone. Her rendering of Screwtape makes him trickster and tempter alike.
But Dygert's interpretation of Screwtape steals the show. Dygert seemingly loves being Screwtape, each line delivered in a wickedly gleeful voice accompanied by a murderous grin. As he argues in favor of evil, he evokes a lawyer's persuasiveness.
In a play based entirely on speech-craft, such performances are undoubtedly important. Rather than an infernally boring morality tale, "Screwtape" is instead compelling theater.
Though Lewis' Screwtape wrote 31 letters, the script condenses them to 18. None of this would be possible without the solid performances of the Tower Players, each of whom embodies Screwtape in their own way while keeping the character consistent throughout the show.
In perhaps the most thought-provoking moment, Screwtape declares "the safest path to Hell is the gradual one." This production of the "Screwtape Letters" functions in much the same way - by the time the final letter has been read, viewers will realize just how enlightening the entire show has been. If there is one temptation worth giving into, this is it.
"The Screwtape Letters" runs Thursday and Friday at 8 p.m. and Saturday at 2 p.m. and 8 p.m. in the Quilhot Black Box Theatre. Tickets are currently sold out, but unclaimed tickets will be released 10 minutes before a show's start.
Though the play is set in a realm of everlasting torment, it is pleasurable, not painful, for viewers. On paper, the play is a series of recitations from Screwtape's letters. In reality, the Tower Players cleverly employ five actors in delivering Screwtape's thoughts. When combined with the claustrophobic Quilhot Black Box Theatre, the end result feels like a direct appeal from evil to the audience.
The approach works wonders in bringing out the best in every performer. Each dresses in immaculate black formalwear, sleek and sinister. Senior Katelyn Rasmussen takes the outfit seriously, treating her soliloquy like a tense business meeting.
Freshman Rachel Kemp, meanwhile, uses her classy dress and stately demeanor to elicit fear. While stalking the stage, Kemp delivers her dialogue with icy haughtiness, her words chilling and arrogant.
Following Kemp is sophomore Daniel Racke, a towering monster whose booming voice will definitely gain attention.
Of particular note, however, are sophomore Kirsty Sadler and freshman Josh Dygert. From playful chatter to hyena cackling Sadler masters the use of her tone. Her rendering of Screwtape makes him trickster and tempter alike.
But Dygert's interpretation of Screwtape steals the show. Dygert seemingly loves being Screwtape, each line delivered in a wickedly gleeful voice accompanied by a murderous grin. As he argues in favor of evil, he evokes a lawyer's persuasiveness.
In a play based entirely on speech-craft, such performances are undoubtedly important. Rather than an infernally boring morality tale, "Screwtape" is instead compelling theater.
Though Lewis' Screwtape wrote 31 letters, the script condenses them to 18. None of this would be possible without the solid performances of the Tower Players, each of whom embodies Screwtape in their own way while keeping the character consistent throughout the show.
In perhaps the most thought-provoking moment, Screwtape declares "the safest path to Hell is the gradual one." This production of the "Screwtape Letters" functions in much the same way - by the time the final letter has been read, viewers will realize just how enlightening the entire show has been. If there is one temptation worth giving into, this is it.
"The Screwtape Letters" runs Thursday and Friday at 8 p.m. and Saturday at 2 p.m. and 8 p.m. in the Quilhot Black Box Theatre. Tickets are currently sold out, but unclaimed tickets will be released 10 minutes before a show's start.
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