Chesterton's MAGIC Gets August Revival by Blackbird Theatre

Nashville's Blackbird Theater in August will mount a rare production of Magic - a play by the great, if largely forgotten, literary figure G.K. Chesterton - with performances at Shamblin Theatre on the David Lipscomb University campus, running August 12-27.

Magic is described as "a funny, fiercely dramatic, unabashedly romantic play that involves an aristocratic family whose conflicting beliefs and doubts about the supernatural are all challenged by the arrival of a mysterious conjurer."

Its author, G.K. Chesterton, though unknown to most people today, was one of the towering intellectuals of the early twentieth century. He was a renowned journalist, acclaimed debater, and perhaps most famously an influential defender of the Christian faith whose humor and profound prose were a great inspiration to many of the last century's most esteemed writers, including J.R.R. Tolkien, T.S. Eliot, John Updike, Neil Gaiman, and C.S. Lewis.

The play will be directed by Blackbird's Artistic Director Wes Driver who counts Chesterton as one of his favorite writers.

"Chesterton was one of the most original, most penetrating thinkers of the 20^th century, and this play captures his thought and joyous spirit so perfectly. It's funny and romantic, but dark and mysterious, too. And it features that sort of drama the Edwardians did so well and we at Blackbird relish-passionate debate about big ideas," Driver explains.

Although largely neglected for the last 75 years, Chesterton and his works are beginning to experience a renaissance of sorts, with a surplus of new books being released about his life and writings and more and more people being turned on to his unmatched imagination and insight.

"We hope our production does its small part in introducing audiences to the brilliance of this forgotten figure," Driver says.

Blackbird's production of Magic stars David Compton as the Conjurer and Amanda Card McCoy as Patricia, both of whom have entertained audiences on a number of Nashville stages, including performances with Tennessee Repertory Theatre and Nashville Children's Theatre. Both Compton and McCoy were among stars of Blackbird's inaugural season production of Tom Stoppard's Arcadia. The play also features notables Alan Lee, Daniel Hackman, Zack McCann, Chris Bosen and Robyn Berg.

For further information about Blackbird, visit the company's website at www.BlackbirdNashville.com.

Pictured (at top): David Compton; (at bottom): Amanda Card McCoy, stars of Blackbird Theatre's upcoming production of Magic.