The Devil’s Disciple
“In the early days of the American Revolution, Dick Dudgeon—played with easy wit and sly charm by Derek Smith—returns home to New Hampshire to find his family quarreling over his father’s fortune and leaning towards supporting the British in the war. The Devil’s Disciple declares himself a patriot and then finds that may mean making a great sacrifice, much to the surprise of the minister’s wife, played with sweetness and verve by Lisa Pelikan. Brimming with Shaw’s lyrical and insightful dialogue and augmented with the sounds of pealing church bells, fife and drums, and an anticipatory crowd waiting to see a hanging, the play rushes to a rousing conclusion, much to the distaste of the sharp-tongued British General Burgoyne, played by a wonderfully droll Richard Dreyfuss. Classic theater at its best.”
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George Bernard Shaw stands “do or die” melodrama on its head in this tale set during the American Revolution when a young hero who disdains heroism makes the ultimate sacrifice for honor and country.
“The Devil’s Disciple” is the story of Richard Dudgeon, who is considered by his friends and family be the “Devil’s disciple” because of his rebellious personality and unfaithfulness to religion. However, when British soldiers visit the home of the town’s minister, Anthony Anderson, with the intentions of arresting Anderson, Dudgeon’s true colors are shown. In a heroic moment, Dudgeon allows the soldiers to arrest him, having mistaken him for Anderson, although it may mean the death of him.
This L.A. Theatre Works full-cast performance featuring Jennifer Albright, Pat Carroll, Stanton Davis, Bruce Davison, Richard Dix, Richard Dreyfuss, David Bryon Jackson, Lisa Pelikan, Derek Smith, and Jon Tindle.
Praise