The Lure of Glory and the Madness of Desire

A Devil Comes to Town

Cunning. Creepy. Comic. Characters caught between destiny and desire – worlds of shadow where genius and madness intertwine. Rabid foxes. Rabid writers? Orgiastic masturbatory frenzied scribbling inking all over the pages. Madness and the threat of barely restrained violence ripple under the surface of civilization.

Trap Door Theatre brings another bold and transformative experience in their signature style with A Devil Comes to Town, adapted and directed by Jeremy Ohringer, based on the original work by Paolo Maurensig.

The innovative expression Trap Door is renowned for is fully realized in Devil. Using their trademark mix of established and imaginative techniques the company conjures a mesmerizing story of mythic proportions. Maurensig’s work is known for blurring the line between the real and the metaphysical and Devil is an excellent example of a surreal journey. Ohringer’s adaptation and direction are brilliant tribute, fulfilling Marensig’s reputation for elegant, suspenseful storytelling and perfecting it for the stage.

An idyllic village almost entirely populated with vainglorious wannabe authors is set upon by the hungry Dr. Fuchs, a devilishly intriguing, big-time “publisher.” At the promise of a writing contest with a hefty case prize the inhabitants are smitten with Fuchs, and increasingly in friction with each other. Only newly arrived Father Cornelius is free from Fuchs’ spell. As the contest is manipulated to foment rivalries, villagers turn feral, snapping at each other in their desperate frenzy, and an inexplicable outbreak of rabid foxes circle in on the town. Cornelius must take his own desperate action to save the village – if he can face down his own demons.

Devil is adamantly an ensemble piece, to the extent that all the actors are solely credited as playing Father Cornelius. And it is the true ensemble nature of this production that gives it such enthralling power. Together they lurk over the entering audience. Together they circle and pounce like a skulk of foxes. Moments of ritualistic choreography transform the company into a coven.

In scenes of continually heightening tension, the ensemble individually embodies a fragmented Father Cornelius, struggling with his perceptions and his doubts, his guilt and his divine duty. The character, split prismatically as each Father Cornelius lives out his battle in the foreground of the spotlighted narrator, deepen feeling of insanity.

Throughout, Father Cornelius has episodes of narration which flow seamlessly – although the words leap from actor to actor, as if the tale itself is an entity possessing their bodies for its expression. These are fascinatingly disturbing, and tinge the storytelling with yet another shade of madness.

Standouts are Y’vonne Rose Smith, predatorily seductive and unceasingly compelling in her scenes as Fuchs, the devilish publishing kingpin who captivates the townsfolk with visions of literary glory. Shail Modi is the humanity of the story when giving us Father Cornelius, the priest exiled to the ill-fated town for his own unspeakable history.

Lighting Designer Karen Wallave creates a haunting world of shadows that come alive, creeping across the dark back wall of the set and the ghostly pages floating in thin air. Flashlights wielded by the cast serve as multi-directional on-demand spotlighting, and when turned on the players distort their faces in that timeless creepy-campfire style.

Saskia Bakker’s (Puppet Design) creations are gorgeously horrid. They emerge as if by magic, taking shape into intricate models, captivating light-boxes and expressive figures in sepia tones evocative of Edward Gorey. One large piece is a thing of nightmares, transfixing the audience with its grotesque form and triggering shudders with the malevolent threat in the tilt of its head. Incorporating these pieces of art is inspired; their otherworldly aspect transports watchers into additional level of this unhinged fairy tale.

Devil is a project of Trap Open, a series exploring non-traditional forms of playmaking, while developing and giving voice to the next the generation of groundbreaking theatre artists.

From concept through execution A Devil Comes to Town is a haunting, surreal masterpiece, and a jewel in Trap Door Theatre’s crown that you don’t want to miss.

Highly Recommend.

Reviewed by Soleil Rodrigue

A Devil Comes to Town runs through November 22, and extended to include December 4^th – 6^th, at 8 PM at the Trap Door Theatre, 1655 W. Cortland St, Chicago.

Tickets and more information available at trapdoortheatre.com or by calling 773-384-0494

Additional information about this and other area productions can be found by visiting www.theatreinchicago.com