The Screwtape Letters Offers Halloween Treats from Candylily

THE HIT NEW DRAMA

THE SCREWTAPE LETTERS

OFFERS A SPECIAL TREAT FROM LOCAL SWEET SHOP CANDYALITY THIS HALLOWEEN

 

           

The first 50 people to arrive at The Mercury Theater, 3745 N. Southport, to see the acclaimed drama THE SCREWTAPE LETTERS on Friday, October 31 at 8 p.m. will receive a festive goody bag filled with fall treats from Wrigleyville’s gourmet candy shop Candyality.  THE SCREWTAPE LETTERS is a funny and provocative look into C.S. Lewis’ brilliant novel that explores the theme of spiritual warfare from a demon’s point of view.  The production, which recently had sold-out runs in New York and Washington, D.C., opens Sunday, October 12, and runs for a limited engagement. 

Adapted for the stage by Jeffrey Fiske and Max McLean, THE SCREWTAPE LETTERS is set in an office in hell.  The play follows a senior devil, Screwtape, and his secretary, Toadpipe, as they train an apprentice demon, Wormwood, on how to “undermine faith and prevent the formation of virtues” in a young man who has just converted to Christianity.

When first published in 1942. THE SCREWTAPE LETTERS brought immediate fame to C.S. Lewis, a little known Oxford don whose field of study was Medieval English and literature.  Over the past sixty-five years its wit and wisdom have made it one of his most widely read and influential works.  One of the intellectual giants of the twentieth century and arguably the most influential Christian writer of his day, C.S. Lewis was a Fellow and Tutor of English literature at Oxford University until 1954 when he was unanimously elected to the Chair of Medieval and Renaissance English at Cambridge University, a position he held until his retirement.  His major contributions in literary criticism, children’s literature, fantasy literature, and popular theology brought him international renown.  He wrote more than thirty books, allowing him to reach a vast audience, and his works continue to attract millions of new readers every year.  His most distinguished and popular accomplishments include:  The Chronicles of Narnia, Out of the Silent Planet, and Mere Christianity.

 The initial production of THE SCREWTAPE LETTERS opened at Theatre 315 in New York City in January 2006 for a limited three-week run. Due to popular demand it ran for eleven sold-out weeks.  After building on its success it reopened in the fall of 2007 at the Theatre at St. Clement’s for another twelve sold-out weeks to rave reviews from audiences and critics alike. In April 2008 it transferred to The Shakespeare Theatre Company’s Lansburgh Theatre in Washington, D.C. for a five week run.  Again it played to sold out and standing room-only audiences.  

THE SCREWTAPE LETTERS is directed by Jeffrey Fiske and stars Max McLean as Screwtape and Yvonee Gougelet as Toadpipe.  Scenic design is by Cameron Anderson, costumes are by Michael Bevins, lighting by Tyler Micoleau, and sound is by Bart Fasbender.  For more biographical or production information, visit www.ScrewtapeOnStage.com.

The performance schedule for THE SCREWTAPE LETTERS is Wednesdays at 8pm, Thursdays at 8pm, Fridays at 8pm, Saturdays at 4pm and 8pm; and Sundays at 3pm.  Tickets range in price from $29.00 to $48.50. Tickets are available by calling The Mercury Theater Box Office at 773.325.1700,TicketMaster at 312.902.1500, or visiting www.ticketmaster.com.  Discounted tickets for students and groups of 10 or more are also available.

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