Down on your luck? Would you risk your soul to change all that? Portland Story Theater’s Devilishly Good delivers an evening of story about what can happen when you hit bottom and decide to sell your soul to the Devil.
Lawrence Howard, well known for his riveting stories of endurance and adventure, creates a real sense of urgency in this telling of “The Devil and Daniel Webster.” It’s a story about hard luck times and a struggling farmer who makes a deal with the Devil to gain financial freedom. But he only has ten years and they fly by like hours. Before he knows it, Mr. Scratch is knocking at the door, ready to collect.
Farmer Stone implores Daniel Webster, ace attorney, to help him win back his soul. In an interesting twist, Webster convinces the Devil that because Stone is an American citizen, he has the right to a jury trial. The trial is a clever contest of wits and words as the Devil and Daniel Webster battle over the farmer’s soul.
Stephen Vincent Benét’s 1938 version of the Faust story is a fascinating tribute to the human spirit overcoming insurmountable odds.
But the odds aren’t so good for Billy Markham. Jonah Weston’s acclaimed one-man show, The Devil and Billy Markham, recaptures the grit and determination of the luckless gambler who loses his soul to the Devil in a game of dice. Written by Shel Silverstein, this epic poem was first published in Playboy Magazine in 1979 in its full bawdy form.
It’s a wild ride to Hell and back where both Billy and the Devil get more than they bargained for. Billy Markham cons his way out of Hell to win a seat in Heaven. As actor, director and playwright, Bruce A. Hostetler says, “This is what it's all about: performer, words, and audience. Jonah is wonderful!”
Devilishly Good opens Friday, October 15th at Hipbone Studio and runs for two weekends, October 15th, 16th, 22nd, and 23rd.
Complimentary Devil’s Food Cake, Red Hots, and other devilishly good snacks will be available. Wine by Storyteller Wine
(21+ only) and other non-alcohol beverages available for purchase.
For further information or to schedule an interview with any of the artists, please call Lynne Duddy at Portland Story Theater
at 503.284.2226.
Who
Portland Story Theater in collaboration with Jonah Weston and Action Talks Productions
What
Devilishly Good
Where
Hipbone Studio, 1847 E Burnside, Portland, Oregon (Corner of NE 18th and E Burnside)
When
Fridays and Saturdays, October 15th, 16th, 22nd, and 23rd
Doors open 7:30. Show at 8:00 pm
Tickets
$15 General Admission. Reservations are required as space is limited. Call 503-793-5484 or email reservations@portlandstorytheater.com to reserve your seats.
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Portland Story Theater was launched in 2004 to bring the urban community together for a unique performance experience, telling tales that stimulate the mind and rouse the heart. We are a grass-roots operation, building awareness and appreciation for narrative. In late 2009, we established ourselves as a not-for-profit business. PST uses a unique collaborative approach to produce shows where people perform stories drawn from real-life experiences. We also offer workshops and 1-on-1 coaching for people who want to learn how to tell stories. Portland Story Theater has been called "raw, revealing, vulnerable," by The Oregonian for our groundbreaking work that "keeps audiences entranced from start to finish."
