Review: C.S. LEWIS THE SCREWTAPE LETTERS at Fellowship For Performing Arts

The production ran on September 16th

By: Sep. 19, 2023
Review: C.S. LEWIS THE SCREWTAPE LETTERS at Fellowship For Performing Arts
Review: C.S. LEWIS THE SCREWTAPE LETTERS at Fellowship For Performing Arts
Brent Harris & Shiloh Goodin in C.S. Lewis The Screwtape Letters. Photo courtesy of the production.

The Fellowship for Performing Arts has given us the opportunity to see C.S. Lewis’ iconic The Screwtape Letters come to life in their staged production of the tale for one day only. Hosted by Capital One Hall, we were transported into the hellish environment in which our lead antagonist, Screwtape, played by Brent Harris, sends letters back and forth to his demon apprentice, Wormwood, in hopes to wreak havoc on an unfortunate soul on Earth.

Review: C.S. LEWIS THE SCREWTAPE LETTERS at Fellowship For Performing Arts
Brent Harris in C.S. Lewis The Screwtape Letters. Photo courtesy of the production.

An interesting story only told through Screwtape and his sidekick, Toadpipe, played by Tamala Bakkensen, where we see the struggle of a veteran demon seem to meet his match with “The Enemy” otherwise known as God through the life of the client on Earth. This production was impressively pieced together. From the acting, set design, costume design, and technical aspects, it’s as if we were transported to Hell for the evening and left questioning various themes of life.

Review: C.S. LEWIS THE SCREWTAPE LETTERS at Fellowship For Performing Arts
Brent Harris in C.S. Lewis The Screwtape Letters. Photo courtesy of the production.

Harris gives a devilishly impressive performance embodying Screwtape and his wild antics throughout the show. We see him break down a once proud and confident character into an almost skeptical shell of what he used to be. The way Harris went about this character was extremely captivating and thrilling to watch. We witnessed the moments when Screwtape began to “crack” as his apprentice’s client continued to hurdle the obstacles they tried to throw at him. The critical study of this perplexing character by Harris was apparent. Each movement, maniacal laugh, and breakdown was clearly expertly pieced together by this very talented actor. Bringing a character to life for the first time can be a challenge, but Brent Harris proved that he was the right man for the job.

Review: C.S. LEWIS THE SCREWTAPE LETTERS at Fellowship For Performing Arts
Shiloh Goodin in C.S. Lewis The Screwtape Letters. Photo courtesy of the production.

Alongside Harris, was the spectacular talent of Bakkensen, who played an integral character in this revitalization of the story. Toadpipe is a devil who is also Screwtape’s secretary. But in this production, Bakkensen does not make Toadpipe a simple secretary. This amusing character brings comic relief to the rather dark story, and helps personify the hesitation implied when regarding some of Screwtape’s interesting suggestions to Wormwood. Bakkensen brought this show to life through her animal-like movements and vocalizations, while also helping to create a visualization of some of Screwtape’s ideas. Her performance certainly brought this incredible production to another level.

Review: C.S. LEWIS THE SCREWTAPE LETTERS at Fellowship For Performing Arts
Brent Harris & Shiloh Goodin in C.S. Lewis The Screwtape Letters. Photo courtesy of the production.

Each aspect utilized to put this story together was clearly meticulously thought out and was very successful. The entire production should be very proud of this show and I should hope to see that it eventually sticks around for a while. A two-person show can be difficult to put together, but the combination of the actors on stage, and everyone off stage, this performance went off without a hitch. For more information on the Fellowship for Performing Arts, click here.

Running time: 90 minutes with no intermission.

"This production is recommended for ages 13 and older, and children under age 4 are not admitted."

C.S. Lewis The Screwtape Letters was a one-day only performance on Saturday, September 16th at Capital One Hall, located at 7750 Capital One Tower Rd, Tysons, VA 22102.

For tickets to see C.S. Lewis The Screwtape Letters in another city, click here.

For more information on the shows at Capital One Hall, click Click Here.


BroadwayWorld Awards Voting

RELATED STORIES - Washington, DC

1
Review: MOSES at Theater J Photo
Review: MOSES at Theater J

What did our critic think of MOSES at Theater J? The title character of Michele Lowe's 90 minute, one-man play, full name Moses Schneider, experiences a literal holocaust, not just a signal fire like that of the Biblical Moses. He then experiences a spiritual journey like the hero of Thomas Carlyle's Sartor Resartus (The Tailor, Re-tailored) which takes him through a loss of faith, a period of indifference when he can't quite remember why he is both numb and grief-stricken, to a regaining of the possibility of peace.

2
BroadwayWorld Washington, DC Awards December 5th Standings;  Leads Favorite Local Theatre! Photo
BroadwayWorld Washington, DC Awards December 5th Standings; Leads Favorite Local Theatre!

It's December, and the first standings of the month have been announced as of Tuesday, December 5th for the 2023 BroadwayWorld Washington, DC Awards! Don't miss out on making sure that your favorite theatres, stars, and shows get the recognition they deserve!

3
American Alliance For Theatre & Education to Host Inaugural Pre-Holiday Auction Photo
American Alliance For Theatre & Education to Host Inaugural Pre-Holiday Auction

American Alliance for Theatre & Education is hosting its first-ever Pre-Holiday Auction, featuring an array of exciting items and theater memorabilia. Join the event and support AATE's valuable work.

4
Review: AN IRISH CAROL at Keegan Theatre Photo
Review: AN IRISH CAROL at Keegan Theatre

What did our critic think of AN IRISH CAROL at Keegan Theatre?

From This Author - Olivia Murray

Olivia is a small-town girl with a large passion for all things theatre. Being put into theatre as a young girl and refinding her passion doing the school musical, she has gathered a plethora of ... Olivia Murray">(read more about this author)

Videos


The Migration: Reflections on Jacob Lawrence in Washington, DC The Migration: Reflections on Jacob Lawrence
Arena Stage (6/06-7/14)
Arms and the Man by George Bernard Shaw in Washington, DC Arms and the Man by George Bernard Shaw
Washington Stage Guild at Undercroft Theatre (11/16-12/10)
John Lloyd Young: Broadway's Jersey Boy in Washington, DC John Lloyd Young: Broadway's Jersey Boy
The Barns at Wolf Trap (3/01-3/01)
As You Like It in Washington, DC As You Like It
Shakespeare Theatre Company (12/02-12/31)
Moses in Washington, DC Moses
Aaron & Cecile Goldman Theater (12/01-12/24)
Keyboard Conversations® with Jeffrey Siegel: Chopin and Liszt in Washington, DC Keyboard Conversations® with Jeffrey Siegel: Chopin and Liszt
Center for the Arts at George Mason University (3/03-3/03)
The Victorian Ladies' Detective Collective in Washington, DC The Victorian Ladies' Detective Collective
Washington Stage Guild at Undercroft Theatre (2/01-2/25)
Fiddler on the Roof in Washington, DC Fiddler on the Roof
Congregation Har Shalom (2/03-2/04)
Tempestuous Elements in Washington, DC Tempestuous Elements
Fichandler Stage at Arena Stage (2/16-3/17)
Public Obscenities   in Washington, DC Public Obscenities  
Woolly Mammoth Theatre (11/13-12/23)
VIEW ALL SHOWS  ADD A SHOW  

Recommended For You