A masterpiece of satire, C.S. Lewis’ classic novel has entertained and enlightened readers worldwide with its sly and ironic portrayal of human foibles from the vantage point of Screwtape, a highly placed tempter in Lucifer’s service.
Set in an eerily stylish office in Hell, Screwtape schemes meticulously with his novice demon nephew, Wormwood, who has been put in charge of securing the damnation of an ordinary young man on earth. Wildly comic, deadly serious and strikingly original this stage adaptation has toured nationally and internationally, run over 300 performances at New York’s Westside Theatre and has been seen by more than 500,000 people.
Most Recent Production – London 2016-17.
Check back for information regarding future productions.
Run time: 90 minutes; no intermission.
What the Critics are Saying
“WICKEDLY WITTY … it is, if I may say so, ONE HELL OF A GOOD SHOW! Lewis’ topsy-turvy exercises in inverted moral theology were made to be played with lip-smacking relish!”
Terry Teachout,
The Wall Street Journal
“A HUMOROUS and LIVELY stage adaptation … THE DEVIL HAS RARELY BEEN GIVEN HIS DUE MORE PERCEPTIVELY AND ERUDITELY … clever and satirical … A large part of what makes it successful is the energetic performance by Max McLean as Screwtape.”
Wilborn Hampton,
The New York Times
“VERY SMART … Richly rewarding … EXUBERANT THEATRICALITY…McLean let’s It rip!”
Chris Jones,
Chicago Tribune
“ENGROSSING and ENTERTAINING … largely due to McLean’s SILKY, VIPERISH PERFORMANCE as His Abysmal Sublimity Screwtape … loaded with alternately clever and ham-handed commentary on human foibles.”
The Boston Globe
“A parable dipped in MORDANT IRONY … CAPTURES THE DROLL HUMOR with which Lewis constructed his topsy-turvy morality lesson. CLEVERLY IMAGINED FOR THE STAGE, it gives even nonbelievers an amusing primer of modern vice.”
Michael Schulman,
The New Yorker
“SLY, FUNNY, HANDSOMELY PRODUCED … THE DEVIL IS AN EQUAL-OPPORTUNITY ENTERTAINER.”
Celia Wren,
The Washington Post
“ENTERTAINING AS IT IS THOUGHT-PROVOKING … McLean delivers a commanding performance!”
Frank Scheck,
New York Post
“HYSTERICAL AND THOUGHT-PROVOKING … appealing to believers and nonbelievers equally, perhaps because [Lewis] is able to put himself in the place of each. Screwtape appeals not merely for its intellectually supported Christianity, but for its dark humor.”
Orlando Weekly
“DEVILISHLY FUNNY … Lewis’ philosophical insights into human nature are cleverly conveyed!”
Jennifer Farrar,
Associated Press
“The production with its IMAGINATIVE set and SNAZZY lighting effects is HIGHLY SEDUCTIVE!”
Joe Dziemianowicz,
New York Daily News
