The History of the Devil

It’s not often you see the horror/fantasy genre on stage at this time of year (although Scrooge’s tribulations come to mind) and there would not be too many productions that start with a content warning more comprehensive than Rage on ABC’s late-night timeslot. But the warning about ‘morbid humour, coarse language and blasphemy’ should also include a caveat – that this is all jolly good fun (for age-appropriate audiences that is)! Well, putting the Devil on trial for his part in humanity’s downfall over the past centuries – what’s not to enjoy?

British horror master Clive Barker (the Hellraiser and Candyman film series) perhaps describes his piece best when he calls it “John Milton meets John Grisham”. And his fans will love the fact that the part of the Devil was originally written in the 1980s for Doug Bradley (‘Pinhead’ in Hellraiser). Polymorphic Productions’ director, James Kable, says he first directed Cliver Barker’s courtroom comedy/drama/horror more than 20 years ago, taken by the play’s “… boldness, audacity and sheer theatricality”. None of those elements have faded in the intervening years. And this director must have had fun because his cast have embraced the genre wholeheartedly – because, I have to say, it’s not the sort of theatre that would work if the cast were not 100% immersed, head-first, feet and all! And that performance dedication shows in an energetic ensemble cast that includes Lisa Hickey and Tiana Varcoe as the Devils’ prosecuting attorneys, Thomas Eastwood as the Devil’s Advocate, Ben Postle as Jesus, Sandra Harman as the Devil’s disciple Verrier, Alex Beebe as Judge Popper, with Sherri Smith, Zara Chandler, and Cullyn Beckton in various roles. And full songs of praise go to Connor Scoble who will drag you along for an enjoyable ride with his wickedly funny Devil. 

While totally pertinent today, Barker’s themes may seem a bit obvious. And the piece seems partly written to employ ‘the Devil’s Advocate’ joke. But, at its heart, it makes a serious point about our own use of the Devil as a supernatural scapegoat for our own very human evildoing. Still, a distillation to a one-act format could help reduce some of the padding. It is an awfully long play at more than 2 hours! But it’s the troupe of performers who keep it interesting. I really enjoyed Sandra Harman’s Verrier – and what else would the Devil’s disciple wear but black leather and a Ramones T-shirt? Ben Postle has great stage presence, tackling historical icons Jesus Christ and Dante Alighieri (he of ‘Inferno’ fame), and Alex Beebe’s judge was a clever send-up of every BBC courtroom drama QC you’ve ever seen. Hats off to the ever-reliable Lisa Hickey for her variety of contrasting roles, including a camp Duke of York. She and Tiana Varcoe were a strong duo to lead the action. This high-energy horror featured lighting design by Nathanial Knight, including some creepy birds and lovely fireworks, with an eerie sound design by Ewan Robertson, featuring sound effects perhaps not heard since The Exorcist. A production for fans of indie theatre that challenges – after all, in this play, the audience is the Devil’s jury!

Beth Keehn

Photo credit: Metro Arts, Connor O’Brien & Emma Louise

Find out more: www.metroarts.com.au/event/the-history-of-the-devil/