FOR REVIEWS, GO TO THE BOTTOM OF THIS PAGE

SET DESIGN BY

ROMAN TATAROWICZ

Designer of the acclaimed set for The NET's production of The Fantasticks

Top (l to r): Pat Ellis, Ken Junkins, Joe Doyle, George Hartpence, Chuck Donnelly,
David Swartz, Kathy Junkins, Marco Newton, Alice Weber
directly above:  Hugh Barton & Nancy Denton

SYNOPSIS:

During the American Revolution in a New England town, Richard Dudgeon, a prodigal son, inherits the family farm.   By the following morning he has been mistaken for town minister Anthony Anderson, arrested in Anderson's stead by the invading British army, and kissed by Anderson's wife (who promptly faints dead away).  Then he's condemned to hang in the town square precisely at noon.  Meanwhile, minister Anderson leaves town in Richard's hat and coat, and General Burgoyne keeps insisting that the hanging is nothing personal.  Everything leads to the gallows precisely at noon by the town clock (or is that clock actually a few minutes fast?).

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above (l to r): Marco Newton, Steve Lobis, Phil Fagans, George Hartpence

below (l to r, front): Alissa Nesson, George Hartpence
(l to r, background) Pat Ellis, Chuck Donnelly, David Swartz

REVIEWS

To read the Stuart Duncan's Packet online review, click here:  Duncan Review of Devil's Disciple

To read the review by Michael Kownacky that appeared in the Trenton Times, click here:
Kownacky Review of Devil's Disciple

The following is the complete review by Anita Donovan that appeared in the weekly theatrical publication, "Hats Off Review":

Disciple is Devilishly Good

George Bernard Shaw's The Devil's Disciple is a brilliant comedy. The plot is a clever twist of personal circumstances set amidst the great public events of the American Revolution. It balances private motives of greed and acquisitiveness against high aspirations for liberty, independence and self-sacrifice. It dabbles in romance but stands on genuine affection. Perhaps more than in any other Shaw play, its hero and heroine are people of feeling rather than thought and act freely on their instinctive knowledge of what is right and wrong.

As the War of Rebellion/Revolutionary War swirls around him, Dick Dudgeon, the black sheep of his well-to-do Colonial American family, returns home to find he has inherited his father's property, despite the reluctance of his alienated mother, he takes on responsibility for his illegitimate young cousin Essie, left him with the property.

Although Dudgeon's morals are questionable, Rev. Anthony Anderson feels compelled to warn him that the British may arrest him as "an example," like Dudgeon's Uncle Peter, recently hanged in a nearby town. Dudgeon comes to the minister's house to confer, but when Anderson is called away to minister to a congregant, an arrest is made while Dudgeon and Mrs. Anderson sip their tea -- only the wanted man is the preacher, not the insouciant Dudgeon.

This simple mistake is the crux of the dilemma, as good and bad are thrown topsy-turvy and each character has to re-examine moral principles they long thought indefeasible. Shaw does this with a great deal of humor, and a goodly dollop of sentiment as well.

When the smoke clears, all is well and everyone is where he or she should be, but in addition, a new sense of morality and humanity are established. It is a testament to Shaw's ability to embody ideas and concepts in solid dramatic action.

The Actors' Net troupe comes up with a solid rendition of this serious but sophisticated satire. Each part is played with sincerity and realism, right down to the arresting British soldiers holding Dudgeon, and the stage demeanor is appropriate in speech and movement to the period.

George Hartpence has great fun with the flamboyant Dick Dudgeon, while Nancy Denton projects every nuance of indecision, passion, and remorse felt by the young, earnest Mrs. Anderson. David Swartz is urbane as the principled minister, and Pat Ellis has a rousing time as Dudgeon's bitter mother. Hugh Barton looks and sounds the part of "Gentleman Johnny" Burgoyne, and newcomer Alissa Nesson is affecting as the little orphan, Essie.