by Samantha Wexler for Curtains Up
Written by Clive Barker
Directed by Jeremy Michael Segal
Performed by Title 66 Productions
The History of the Devil is a satiric tale about the Devil’s trial at the end of the human race. The Devil shared the world with humanity for many millennia. If the Devil can prove that it is humanity that is responsible for his alleged crimes and not he alone, he will be able to return to paradise and put an end to his banishment forever. The History of the Devil exposes Lucifer as a fallen angel and very much like humanity, in some ways it might be difficult to tell who you are looking at, a human or Lucifer which begs the question, does the Devil deserve to live in paradise? Does anybody? In a theatrical explosion of darkness, philosophy, satire, masks and costumes, an alluring array of characters travel through time to tell us the tale of the History of the Devil.
Jeremy Michael Segal co-director of the production believes that the play’s central theme of humanity is key “as human beings, we are constantly searching for paradise; grasping at wisps of divinity, trying to understand our existence- terrified to die and disappear. We want so badly to be good that we delude ourselves into believing that evil can not be natural to our being. History proves otherwise.” Segal hopes that the play will lead to discussion on what it entails to be human as well as leave with an appreciation of theatre. Mitch Davis who is the Co-Director of the Fantasia Festival describes the production “This thing is alive with ingenuity and flair… dark, inspired bliss. I loved it as did everyone I was with.”
The History of the Devil opens up on Thursday August 1st 2013 at 8pm and runs until August 3rd 2013, 8pm at Place des Arts during the Fantasia Festival. Tickets can be purchased at 514 842 2112 or at http://laplacedesarts.com/shows/12384/the-history-of-the-devil.en.html. Follow them on Twitter: https://twitter.com/title_66.
