"When the Devil appears, one must accept that he is real and be ready to bargain-because your future is at stake and you might not get another chance. The playwright's inventive rework of a classic 17th century English drama taps into the urgency of moment we find ourselves in America, not with obvious stand-ins for contemporary political figures or events, but with the universal struggle people feel for hope in dark times."
"Scratch (Joshua J. Weinstein), his name pseudonymous for the Devil, has arrived in the rural town of Edmonton eager to claim souls in exchange for granting people's darkest desires. He immediately sets his sights on the rivals Cuddy Banks (Charles Grant), the aristocratic son of Sir Arthur Banks (George Mount), and Frank Thorney (Logan Bailey), a peasant his father plucked out of poverty."
"While the men vie over power, Scratch works on his most difficult customer: Elizabeth Sawyer (Lauren Modica-Soloway), the local witch, according to the village gossip. Elizabeth seems the perfect customer for a Faustian bargain-spurned by the community, filled with righteous anger, and yet, she constantly refuses the offer. Silverman's use of modern language in a historical setting ensures Witch lands with modern audiences (the script actually forbids faux period accents) thanks, in no small part, to their strength as a writer."
When the Devil appears, doubt is not an option; acceptance and bargaining determine people's futures. Scratch arrives in rural Edmonton to claim souls in exchange for granting darkest desires. He targets rivals Cuddy Banks, an aristocratic son, and Frank Thorney, a peasant elevated by his father. Cuddy simmers with resentment while Frank pursues ambition, their rivalry blurring resentment and obsession. Winnifred, a secretly married maid, seeks security amid the conflict. Elizabeth Sawyer, labeled a witch and spurned by the village, is tempted yet repeatedly refuses a Faustian bargain. Modern language in a historical setting keeps the story resonant for contemporary audiences.
Read at Portland Mercury
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