THE SCREWTAPE LETTERS Features Talk-Backs And More Thru 2/12

THE SCREWTAPE LETTERS, the acclaimed drama presented by Fellowship for the Performing Arts at The Mercury Theater, 3745 N. Southport Avenue, will feature Free Dinner Thursdays and Talk-Back Fridays through February 12. THE SCREWTAPE LETTERS, which recently made its Chicago premiere, runs through February 15.

Theatergoers who buy four tickets to the show on Thursday evenings will receive a free dinner for four at Cullen's Bar & Grill, the restaurant connected to the theater. Cullen's pub-style menu features the hearty British-inspired cuisine that C.S. Lewis loved. Seating for the pre-show dinner is at 6 p.m., prior to the 8 p.m. performance. The menu includes a choice of soup or salad, one entrée (Meatloaf Dinner, Fish and Chips, Chicken Pot Pie or Macaroni and Cheese) and a dessert. Customers should mention this special when ordering tickets and tax, gratuity and beverages are not included. This offer is subject to availability.

Friday night post-show talk-backs will feature Max McLean (co-creator and star) and Jeffrey Fiske (co-creator and director.) During the talk-backs, McLean and Fiske will foster audience discussions about the show's provocative themes and answer questions about how they adapted C.S. Lewis' classic novel into a hit stage production.

Adapted for the stage by Jeffrey Fiske and Max McLean, THE SCREWTAPE LETTERS, which runs 90 minutes without intermission, is set in an office in hell. The engaging play follows a senior devil, Screwtape, and his secretary, Toadpipe, as they train an apprentice demon, Wormwood, on how to "undermine faith and prevent the formation of virtues" in a young man who has just converted to Christianity. As Screwtape ridicules Wormwood and devilishly dictates his letters to Toadpipe, the fantastical creature transforms into laughingly recognizable figures with whimsical movement and wordless wit.

Critics have raved that the show is "Very smart...richly rewarding...exuberant theatricality!," (Chris Jones, Chicago Tribune), "Phenomenal! Sizzling entertainment...wonderfully clever. Sensational!," (Hedy Weiss, Chicago Sun-Times), "A first rate production...Terribly entertaining... Screwtape boils over with wit" (Jayne Blanchard, The Washington Times), a "Hell of a good time...imaginative theatricality...wonderful performances" (Frank Scheck, New York Post), "Sly, funny, handsomely produced" (Celia Wren, Washington Post) and "A thought-provoking, engaging, entertaining, intelligent, bitingly satirical and funny exploration of profound issues of right and wrong," (Daniel Kelley, NYTheatre.com.)

When first published in 1942. THE SCREWTAPE LETTERS brought immediate fame to C.S. Lewis, a little known Oxford don whose field of study was Medieval English and literature. Over the past sixty-five years its wit and wisdom have made it one of his most widely read and influential works. One of the intellectual giants of the twentieth century and arguably the most influential Christian writer of his day, C.S. Lewis was a Fellow and Tutor of English literature at Oxford University until 1954 when he was unanimously elected to the Chair of Medieval and Renaissance English at Cambridge University, a position he held until his retirement. His major contributions in literary criticism, children's literature, fantasy literature, and popular theology brought him international renown. He wrote more than thirty books, allowing him to reach a vast audience, and his works continue to attract millions of new readers every year. His most distinguished and popular accomplishments include: The Chronicles of Narnia, Out of the Silent Planet, and Mere Christianity.
THE SCREWTAPE LETTERS is directed by Jeffrey Fiske and stars Max McLean as Screwtape and Yvonne Gougelet as Toadpipe. Scenic design is by Cameron Anderson, costumes are by Michael Bevins, lighting by Tyler Micoleau, and sound is by Bart Fasbender. For more biographical or production information, visit www.ScrewtapeOnStage.com.

The performance schedule for THE SCREWTAPE LETTERS is Wednesdays at 8pm, Thursdays at 8pm, Fridays at 8pm, Saturdays at 4pm and 8pm; and Sundays at 3pm. Tickets range in price from $29.00 to $48.50. Tickets are available by calling The Mercury Theater Box Office at 773.325.1700, TicketMaster at 312.902.1500, or visiting www.ticketmaster.com. Discounted tickets for students and groups of 10 or more are also available. For groups of 15 or more, please call 773.477.7666. The Mercury Theatre's convenient location gives audience members one-stop entertainment and various shopping and dining venues including Cullen's Bar & Grill, the restaurant connected to the theater.

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