Sticks of Fire: a Tampa blog

Editor’s note:  As hoped, we found someone who graciously volunteered to review Jobsite Theater’s The History of the Devil.  Say hello to Adonna, and we promise to give her a proper welcome soon.  In the meantime, here is her review.

Forget Georgia; the Devil is down in Florida this month in The History of the Devil, a dark, witty tale of historical fiction and human nature. The story begins as the Devil selects his “advocate,” an appeals lawyer who must counsel Satan himself in his appeal trial to return to heaven after centuries on earth. In a courtroom in Kenya, a hot, hellish setting full of death and decay, the audience sits as a jury, witnessing accounts of the Devil’s earthly encounters.

We follow Satan’s story from his first moments on earth through to his judgment. As the prosecution and defense call their witnesses, we see reenactments of Lucifer falling from heaven, learning what it is to be human, encouraging depravity and destruction, bargaining with Jesus and more.

Witnesses are resurrected from their graves to testify at the trial, and we see that Lucifer is quick to persuade others to indulge in their dark side, even admiring their perversity, but hesitant to take direct action himself. Throughout this “history,” he struggles with his human qualities, experiencing innocence, pain, lust, betrayal and more—all while groveling for a chance to return to heaven, pleading his innocence as a mere scapegoat for mankind’s sins.

Overall, The History of the Devil is a delightful guilty pleasure for those with an open mind and a curiosity for history and religion. As the plot unravels, it raises some interesting questions of human nature and justice, with a wicked mix of historical cameos you just might feel guilty for laughing at.

The final scenes are a delightful trick, with a twist of fate for the court’s final remarks and judgment. Led by a talented and witty cast, a nearly three hour play quickly flies by for an engaged audience treated to the animated performances of a wide array of characters.

The History of the Devil presented by Jobsite Theater continues through November 16th at the Shimberg Theater, Tampa Bay Performing Arts Center.  Tickets are $24.50.