Praise be to The Devil’s Disciple at the Shaw Festival for bringing back theatre without compromise
at the Shaw Festival slowly tightened its grip on me, I felt for the first moment since the pandemic began that theatre was truly back – with no compromises.
The tension really ramps up when the minister is summoned away and has to leave his devout wife Judith Anderson alone with Dudgeon. The two share an uneasy cup of tea – before she finally admits, “I hate and dread you.” Gauthier finds myriad shades of shame, confusion and anger in between the lines Shaw has written; she’s an actor of emotional bursts and sudden temperature shifts, which she has gradually learned to shape into an original and highly engaging performance style.Happer, meanwhile, gives a classically Shavian performance of repulsive charisma as a character who is, in this case quite literally, the devil’s advocate.
I also mention that twist because it’s the psychological mystery behind it that compels in Shaw’s play: Why does Dudgeon imperil himself to save a man who he ostensibly opposes? Does he do it for the minister’s wife? And, if so, is it out of pity or love? Tom McCamus oozes on stage late in the game as the cynical General Burgoyne, who knows just how little Britain is really committed to keeping its rebellious colonies; it’s wonderful to be reacquainted with this master actor.
Holmes provides clearer direction in the way she makes evident the oppressive sexism of the society depicted without painting the women merely as victims.The Devil’s Disciple
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