Black Coffee Staged Reading Series Debuts Saturday

The Devil Takes Care of His Own depicts the last night on earth of the notorious Charlie Wall, who dominated Tampa criminal enterprises, including the bolita lottery, from the 1920's until rivals forced him out of business in the Forties. He thereafter became the 'elder statesman of Tampa vice,' testified before the Kefauver Senate Crime Committee in 1950 and was murdered in his home in west Tampa in April, 1955. The Dream Bar, the setting for the play, was the last place the talkative Charlie Wall went carousing on the night of his death.

The cast includes Victor Carr in the title role, Eric Edington, Carmen Lusignan, Kelly Clow and Miguel Rodriguez.

There will be a talk back with playwright, director and cast after the reading.