The Devil Himself – Smock Alley – Review

23 Aug – 2 Sep 2023 – 7:30PM
SAT MATINEÉS AT 2PM

Written and Directed by Paul Nugent
Inspired by the Book by Andrew Porwancher

This story is set in 1883, in Uniontown, Pennsylvania. It tells the tale of Nicholas Dukes (Ciaran McGlynn), a young lawyer who is aiming for a career in politics. He has fallen in love with Lizzie Nutt (Mo O’Connell). He asks her father, Captain Adam Nutt (David Ryan) the Civil War veteran, for her hand in marriage and their wedding date is set. However, when James abruptly breaks off the marriage, making a number of allegations against Lizzie, he sets in motion a chain of events that ends in murder!

If this all sounds quite dramatic, it certainly is! The play is based on real-life events and it is one of the most famous stories of its time in America. The play is ‘inspired by’ the book The Devil Inside, which is written by Andrew Porwancher. The story has many twists and turns and you’d question how far-fetched the plot is if it wasn’t based on true events. If you’re interested in the details of the story, you can read them here.

AboutFace Theatre has taken on the task of presenting this wide-ranging story to the theatre-going public of Dublin, and they do it with some style. There are 8 members in the cast which is small for a story involving 2 court cases and a multitude of different individuals. They use a number of interesting techniques to bulk out the number of characters. Helen McGrath, Anna Nugent and Carmel Stephens play “The Ensemble”, which is like a mid-western version of a Greek Chorus. They play a variety of characters, from the average man in the street to journalists, doctors and a number of other guises. It works well and the three actors also add a degree of humour to the story.

For a small production, the cast is surprisingly strong and they put impressive effort and life into the tale. Surprisingly, for a story of revenge and murder, the production doesn’t take itself too seriously and adds a spark of humour on many occasions. The story lags slightly after the interval, but overall it’s an enjoyable, fast-paced production. It is rare to see a story of this type on stage, either in the setting or the complexity of events, so the production company deserves much credit for delving into uncharted waters. It’s an intriguing tale with many different aspects which leaves you with much to discuss when you leave the theatre.

Running time 2 Hours and 15 Minutes with a 15 Minute Interval

Cast:
Lizzie Nutt – Mo O’Connell
Nicholas Dukes – Ciaran McGlynn
James Nutt – Michael Mullen
Sheriff Sam Hoover – Eoin O’Sullivan
Captain Adam Nutt – David Ryan
The Ensemble – Helen McGrath, Anna Nugent, Carmel Stephens

Creative Team:
Set Design by Jennifer Keane
Costume Design by Tara McKeever
Lighting Design by Ross McSherry
Sound Design by Jessie Doyle

Production Manager Yvonne Ussher
Stage Manager Alix Bailey
Lighting/Sound Technician Heather Hennessy
Dresser Lizzy Morrissey
ASM/Props Annie Keane
Dramaturgy by Krystal Sweedman
Accent Coaching by Kathleen Warner Yeates
Digital Marketing by Ashley Steed
Graphic Design by Charlie Kranz
Publicity photography by Martin Dunne

Tickets: €20 | €16 OAP/student/unemployed