"Taken from the Faustian play The Witch of Edmonton, written in 1621 by William Rowley, Thomas Dekker, and John Ford, Silverman's story, directed by Hecht for Profile Theatre, explores what happens when a devil named Scratch (Joshua J. Weinstein) comes to Edmonton and tries to tempt the villagers into trading their souls in exchange for their secret desires. What Cuddy Banks (Charles Grant) wants is the freedom to pursue his beloved Morris dancing ... and to finally receive some unconditional love and respect from his father, Sir Arthur Banks (George Mount)."
"Sir Arthur, though, favors the upwardly mobile Frank Thorney (Logan Bailey), a poor young fellow who cleverly fawns on the wealthy landowner and better fits Sir Arthur's idea of virile manhood. While Cuddy and Frank are putty in Scratch's hands, Elizabeth Sawyer (Lauren Modica-Soloway), the town outcast who's rumored to be a witch, is a tougher customer. Thanks to Modica-Soloway's superb performance, Elizabeth's slightest look reflects the fact that she's equipped with a top-of-the-line bullshit detector. "That's your pitch?" she asks Scratch when he tries to tempt her."
The production adapts a Faustian tale in which a devil named Scratch tempts villagers to trade their souls for secret desires. Cuddy Banks longs for the freedom to Morris dance and for unconditional paternal love, while Sir Arthur favors the upwardly mobile Frank Thorney. Elizabeth Sawyer, the town outcast rumored to be a witch, rebuffs temptation with sharp skepticism. Performances are consistently exceptional and character-building is multifaceted: Cuddy's sweetness yields mounting rage, Frank's genial exterior conceals bullying, and the staging balances devilish comedy with darkly human emotional impact.
Read at Oregon ArtsWatch * Arts & Culture News
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