Carolina Heritage Theater invites you to celebrate our nation’s 250th with a tale of the American Revolution – G. B. Shaw’s “The Devil’s Disciple.” A one-night-only show at the Old Theater in Oriental.
It’s 1777 and the wars are fierce in New England—not just between the colonials and the British, but between self-proclaimed devil’s disciple Richard Dudgeon and his puritanical family and relatives.
Meanwhile, the British are making life hard, hanging a man in every town. Richard’s malcontent uncle Peter was hanged in nearby Springtown and his family is convinced that he will be their target here. But Richard is convinced otherwise: they hanged Peter for being of a prominent family, not for being a bad example, he declares, and he is convinced the local pastor Andrew Anderson will be their target.
Things reach a peak when he is visiting the minister and his young wife. After Anderson steps out to tend to a sick parishioner, the British arrive to arrest him. Richard finds himself facing a moral decision for perhaps the first time in his life.
Playwright George Bernard Shaw is best known for “Pygmalion,” the play from which “My Fair Lady” was adopted. He is recognized for his brilliant and witty dialogue and subtle sarcasm about society’s norms. Originally produced in 1893, it was Shaw’s first hit in America.
Carolina Heritage Theater is a traveling dinner theater company dedicated to the presentation of history and classic plays. Bill Hand, its director, was formerly the founder and director of the North Carolina History Theater. This play will be produced Sept. 19 at The Old Theater in Oriental, at 7:30 p.m. Call 252-631-1115 or visit http://www.oldtheater.org for ticket information.
